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MEMOIRS 


OF 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH, 


A  NATIVE  OF  OWHYHEE, 


AND  A  MEMBER  OF 


THE  FOREIGN  MISSION  SCHOOL 


WHO  DIED  AT  CORNWALL,  CONN.  FEB.  17, 1818. 
AGED  26  YEARS. 


REVISED    BY    THE    COMMITTEE    OF    PUBLICATION. 

AMERICAN  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION. 
PHILADELPHIA: 

No.  146  Chesnut  Street. 

1830. 


District  of  Connecticut,  ss. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  fifth  day  of  September 
in  the  forty-third  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  LYMAN  BEECHER  and  JOSEPH  HARVEY,  of 
the  said  District,  have  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book, 
the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  proprietors,  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing, to  wit: 

"  Memoirs  of  Henry  Obookiah,  a  native  of  Owhyhee,  and  a 
Member  of  the  Foreign  Mission  School ;  who  died  at  Cornwall, 
Conn.  Feb.  17,  1818,  aged  26  years.'" 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
entitled,  "  An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  secur- 
ing the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  Authors  and 
Proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned." 
R.  I.  INGERSOLL. 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  Connecticut. 
A  true  copy  of  Record,  examined  and  sealed  by  me, 
R.  I.  INGERSOLL, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  Connecticut. 


MEMOIRS 


Of 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH. 


itc'rfRY  Obookiah  was  a  native  of  Owhy- 
L»  e,  the  most  important  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  He  was  born  about  the  year  1792. 
His  parents  ranked  with  the  common  peo- 
ple ;  but  his  mother  was  distantly  related  to 
the  family  of  the  king.  Her  name  was 
Kummoolah.  The  name  of  his  father  is 
unknown.  When  Obookiah  was  at  the  age 
of  ten  or  twelve,  both  his  parents  were  slain 
before  his  eyes,  "  in  a  war,"  to  use  his  own 
language,  "  made  after  the  old  king  died,  to 
see  who  should  be  the  greatest  among  them." 
The  only  surviving  member  of  the  family, 
besides  himself,  was  an  infant  brother  two 
or  three  months  old.  This  little  brother  he 
hoped  to  save  from  the  fate  of  his  parents, 
and  took  him  upon  his  back  to  flee  from  the 
3 


4  MEMOIRS  OF 

enemy  ;  but  was  overtaken,  and  the  child 
cruelly  destroyed.  The  circumstances  of 
this  interesting  scene  are  so  accurately  stated 
in  a  "  Narrative"  already  before  the  public, 
that  that  account  will  be  here  transcribed. 
The  facts  were  taken  from  the  relation  of 
Obookiah. 

"  Two  parties  were  contending  for  the  do- 
minion of  the  island.  The  warriors  met, 
and  a  dreadful  slaughter  ensued.  The  party 
to  which  the  father  of  Obookiah  belonged 
was  overpowered.  The  conquerors  having 
driven  their  antagonists  from  the  field,  next 
turned  their  rage  upon  the  villages  and  fa- 
milies of  the  vanquished.  The  alarm  was 
given  of  their  approach.  The  father,  taking 
his  wife  and  two  children,  fled  to  the  moun- 
tains There  he  concealed  himself  for  seve- 
ral days  with  his  family  in  a  cave.  But,  at 
length,  being  driven  by  thirst  to  leave  their 
retreat,  they  went  in  quest  of  water  to  a 
neighbouring  spring.  Here  they  were  sur- 
prised by  a  party  of  the  enemy  while  in  the 
act  of  quenching  their  thirst.  The  father, 
obeying  the  first  impulse  of  nature,  fled,  but 
the  cries  of  his  wife  and  children  soon 
brought  him  back  again  for  their  protection. 
But  seeing  the  enemy  near,  again  he  fled. 
The  enemy  seeing  the  affection  of  the  father 
for  his  family,  having  seized  his  wife  and 
children,  put  them  to  the  torture,  in  order 
to  decoy  him  from  his  retreat.     The  artifice 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  5 

succeeded.  Unable  to  bear  the  piercing 
cries  of  his  family,  again  he  appeared,  and 
fell  into  their  hands,  and  with  his  wife  was 
cut  in  pieces.  While  this  was  going  on, 
Obookiah,  being  then  a  lad  of  about  twelve 
years,  took  his  infant  brother  upon  his  back, 
and  attempted  to  make  his  escape.  But  he 
was  pursued,  and  his  little  brother  pierced 
through  with  a  pahooa,  or  spear,  while  on 
his  back.  He  himself  was  saved  alive,  be- 
cause he  was  not  young  enough  to  give 
them  trouble,  nor  old  enough  to  excite  their 
fears." 

Obookiah,  being  now  a  prisoner  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  was  taken  home  to  the 
house  of  the  very  man  who  murdered  his 
parents.  With  him  he  remained,  until  he 
was  found  by  an  uncle,  who  having  obtained 
the  consent  of  his  keeper,  took  him  into  his 
own  family  and  treated  him  as  his  child. 
This  uncle  was  a  priest ;  and  had  the  rank 
of  high  priest  of  the  island.  It  was  his  de- 
sign to  educate  Obookiah  for  the  same  ser- 
vice. In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  he 
taught  him  long  prayers,  and  trained  him  to 
the  task  of  repeating  them  daily  in  the  tem- 
ple of  the  idol.  This  ceremony  he  some- 
times commenced  before  sunrise  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  at  other  times  was  employed  in  it 
during  the  whole  or  the  greater  part  of  the 
night.  Parts  of  these  prayers  he  often  re- 
a  2 


6  MEMOIRS  OF 

peated  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  his  friends, 
after  he  came  to  this  country.* 

He  continued  with  his  uncle,  and  in  this 
employment,  until  he  look  his  departure  from 
his  native  country,  to  go  in  quest  of  another, 
where  he  hoped  to  find  the  happiness  which 
the  death  of  his  parents  had  taken  from  him, 
and  which  nothing,  now  to  be  found  in  his 
own  country,  <  ould  at  all  supply. 

His  own  feelings  on  this  subject,  with 
some  account  of  his  situation  while  he  re- 
mained upon  the  island,  of  his  departure 
for  America,  and  his  reception  in  this  coun- 
try, are  found  in  a  history  of  his  past  life, 
written  by  himself  several  years  before  his 
death.  As  this,  to  all  the  readers  of  these 
memoirs  will  doubtless  be  interesting,  con- 
sidered especially  as  the  production  of  a 
heathen  youth,  the  greater  part  of  it  will  be 
inserted ;  with  but  few  slight  alterations. 
His  own  ideas,  and  in  general,  his  own  lan- 
guage will  be  preserved. 

The  history  commences  at  the  time  of  his 
parents'  death. 

"  The  same  man,"  says  he,   "  which  kill- 
ed my  father  and   mother  took  me  home  to 
his  own  house.     His  wife  was   an  amiable  . 
woman,   and  very    kind,   and   her    husband 


*  The  prayers  regarded  the  weather,  the  general  pros- 
perity of  the  island,  its  defence  from  enemies,  an^  -*■;> 
cially  the  life  and  happiness  of  the  king. 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  7 

also :  yet  on  account  of  killing  my  parents  I 
did  not  feel  contented.  After  I  lived  with 
this  man  about  a  year  or  two,  I  found  one 
of  my  uncles,  who  was  a  priest  among  them ; 
but  he  knew  not  who  I  was,  (for  I  was  quite 
small  when  he  saw  me  at  home  with  my  pa- 
rents.) He  inquired  the  name  of  my  pa- 
rents— I  told  him.  As  soon  as  he  heard  the 
name  of  my  parents,  tears  burst  out  and  he 
weeped  bitterly.  He  wished  me  not  to  go 
back  and  live  with  that  man  which  killed  my 
father  and  mother,  but  to  live  with  him  as 
long  as  I  live.  I  told  him  I  must  go  back 
and  see  that  man,  whether  he  was  willing  to 
give  me  a  release.  This  was  done.  I  went 
home,  and  told  the  man  all  what  my  uncle 
had  told  me.  But  the  saying  seemed  to  him 
very  unpleasing.  As  soon  as  he  had  heard 
all  what  I  said  to  him,  he  was  very  torment- 
ed with  anger,  as  if  he  would  look  me  in 
pieces  that  moment.  He  would  not  let  me 
go,  not  till  he  die,  or  else  he  take  my  life 
away.  Not  long  after  this,  I  went  and  told 
my  uncle  what  the  man  had  told  me,  and  he 
would  no  more  let  me  go  back  to  the  man's 
house,  until  the  man  come  after  me,  then  he 
would  converse  with  him  on  this  subject. 
After  I  had  lived  with  my  uncle  two  or  three 
days,  the  man  came  to  his  house,  to  take 
me  home.  But  my  uncle  told  him  that  I 
was  as  his  own  child — that  he  would  not  let 
me  go  back  and  live  with  him ;  else  if  he 


8  MEMOIRS    OF 

take  me,  he  should  take  both  of  us.  Yet 
the  man  did  say  but  little  because  my  uncle 
was  a  priest.  But  he  told  my  uncle  that  if 
I  should  live  with  him,  he  must  take  kind 
care  of  me  as  what  he  has  done.  He  told 
him  he  would  by  all  means.  When  all  this 
was  done  I  lived  with  my  uncle  a  number  of 
years." 

It  was  probably  during  this  period,  and 
before  peace  was  entirely  restored  to  the 
island,  that  an  event  occurred  in  which  the 
hand  of  Providence  was  strikingly  visible  in 
rescuing  Obookiah,  from  a  second  exposure 
to  a  violent  and  untimely  death. 

He,  with  an  aunt,  the  only  surviving  sis- 
ter of  his  father,  had  fallen  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  enemy.  On  a  certain  day  it 
came  to  his  knowledge  that  his  aunt,  and, 
perhaps  himself,  was  to  be  put  to  death. — 
The  first  opportunity  he  could  find,  he  at- 
tempted to  make  his  escape.  And  by  creep- 
ing through  a  hole  into  a  cellar,  and  going 
out  on  the  opposite  side,  he  got  away,  unob- 
served, and  wandered  off  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  house  in  which  he  had 
been  kept.  But  it  was  not  long  before  his 
aunt  was  brought  out,  by  a  number  of  the 
enemy,  and  taken  to  a  precipice,  from  which 
she  "was  thrown  and  destroyed.  He  saw  this 
— and  now  feeling  himself  more  than  ever 
alone,  as  soon  as  the  enemy  had  retired,  he 
ran  toward  the  fatal  spot,  resolved  to  throw 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  \j 

iiimself  over  and  die  with  this  friend  ;  whom, 
perhaps,  he  now  considered  as  the  last  indi- 
vidual of  his  kindred.  But  he  was  discover- 
ed by  one  of  the  chiefs,  or  head  men  of  the 
party,  who  ordered  two  men  to  pursue  him 
and  bring  him  back. — He  was  overtaken  just 
before  he  reached  the  precipice,  and  carried 
back  to  the  quarters  of  the  enemy.  By  a 
kind  interposition  of  Providence  he  was 
saved  for  purposes  which  will  appear  in  the 
subsequent  history. 

"At  the  death  of  my  parents,"  he  says, 
"  I  was  with  them ;  I  saw  them  killed  with 
a  bayonet — and  with  them  my  little  brother, 
not  more  than  two  or  three  months  old — so 
that  I  was  left  alone  without  father  and  mo- 
ther in  this  wilderness  world.  Poor  boy, 
thought  I  within  myself,  after  they  were 
gone,  are  there  any  father  or  mother  of  mine 
at  home,  that  I  may  go  and  find  them  at 
home  ?  No  ;  poor  boy  am  I.  And  while  I 
was  at  play  with  other  children — after  we 
had  made  an  end  of  playing,  they  return  to 
their  parents — but  I  was  returned  into  tears ; 
— for  I  have  no  home,  neither  father  nor 
mother.  I  was  now  brought  away  from  my 
home  to  a  stranger  place,  and  I  thought  of 
nothing  more  but  want  of  father  or  mother, 
and  to  cry  day  and  night. 

"  While  I  was  with  my  uncle,  for  some 
time  I  began  to  think  about  leaving  that 
country,    to  go   to   some  other   part  of  the 


10 


MEMOIRS    OF 


globe.  I  did  not  care  where  I  shall  go  to. 
I  thought  to  myself  that  if  I  should  get 
away,  and  go  to  some  other  country,  pro- 
bably I  may  find  some  comfort,  more  than 
to  live  there,  without  father  and  mother. — 
I  thought  it  will  be  better  for  me  to  go  than 
to  stay.  About  this  time  there  was  a  ship 
come  from  New  York ; — Captain  Brintnall 
the  master  of  the  ship.  As  soon  as  it  got 
into  the  harbour,  in  the  very  place  where  I 
lived,  I  thought  of  no  more  but  to  take  the 
best  chance  I  had,  and  if  the  captain  have 
no  objection,  to  take  me  as  one  of  his  own 
servants  and  to  obey  his  word.  As  soon 
as  the  ship  anchored  I  went  on  board.  The 
captain  soon  inquired  whose  boy  I  was. 
Yet  I  knew  not  what  he  says  to  me,  for  I 
could  not  speak  the  English  language. — But 
there  was  a  young  man  who  could  speak  the 
English  language,  and  he  told  the  captain 
that  I  was  the  Minister's  nephew — (the  mi- 
nister of  that  place.)  The  captain  wished 
me  to  stay  on  board  the  ship  that  night,  and 
the  next  day  go  home.  This  very  much  sa- 
tisfied me,  and  I  consented  to  stay.  At  even- 
ing the  captain  invited  me  to  eat  supper 
with  him.  And  there  sat  another  boy  with 
us  who  was  to  be  my  fellow-traveller;  by 
name  Thomas  Hopoo — Thomas,  a  name 
given  him  by  the  supercargo  of  the  ship. 
After  supper  the  captain  made  some  in- 
quiry to  see  if  we  were  willing  to  come  to 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  11 

America;  and  soon  I  made  a  motion  with 
my  head  that  I  was  willing  to  go.  This  man 
was  very  agreeable,  and  his  kindness  was 
much  delighted  in  my  heart,  as  if  I  was  his 
own  son,  and  he  was  my  own  father.  Thus 
I  still  continue  thankful  for  his  kindness  to- 
wards me. 

"  The  next  morning  the  captain  wished 
me  to  go  shore  and  see  my  uncle,  whether 
he  was  willing  to  let  me  go  with  him  or  not. 
I  then  got  into  a  canoe  and  went  on  shore 
and  found  my  uncle.  He  was  at  home. — 
He  asked  me  where  was  I  been  through  all 
that  night  before.  I  told  him  that  I  was  on 
board  the  ship  and  staid  there  all  the  night. 
I  told  him  what  my  object  was,  and  all  what 
the  captain  invite  me  to.  As  soon  as  my 
uncle  heard  that  I  was  going  to  leave  him,  he 
shut  me  up  in  a  room,  for  he  was  not  willing 
to  let  me  go.  While  I  was  in  the  room  my 
old  grandmother  coming  in,  asked  me  what 
was  my  notion  of  leaving  them,  and  go  with 
the  people  whom  I  know  not.  I  told  her  it 
is  better  for  me  to  go  than  to  stay  there. 
She  said  if  I  should  leave  them  I  shall  not 
see  them  any  more.  I  told  her  that  I  shall 
come  back  in  a  few  months  if  I  live.  Her 
eyes  were  filled  with  tears.  She  said  that  I 
was  very  foolish  boy.  This  was  all  she  said, 
and  she  went  out  from  the  room.  As  soon 
as  she  went  out,  I  looked  around,  expecting 
to  find  a  hole  that  I  might  escape  out  of  the 


12  MEMOIRS   OF 

house.  And  as  soon  as  I  saw  a  little  hole 
in  the  side  of  the  house,  I  got  through  it 
and  went  on  board  the  ship.  When  my  un- 
cle heard  that  I  was  on  board  the  ship,  he 
got  into  his  canoe  and  came  on  board  the  ship 
inquiring  after  me.  No  sooner  after  he  made 
some  inquirement  I  was  there  discovered  by- 
one  of  our  countrymen  who  had  the  care 
of  the  ship,  and  was  brought  forth,  and  come 
to  my  uncle's  house.  He  would  not  let  me 
go  unless  I  pay  him  a  hog  for  his  god  : 
(for  I  was  taken  under  his  care  to  be  made 
for  a  minister.)" 

Here  there  is  an  interruption  in  the  his- 
tory, and  it  does  not  appear  whether  the  ex- 
acted price  was  or  was  not  paid  for  his  dis- 
charge, and  permission  to  come  to  America. 
Permission,  however,  was  soon  obtained. 

"  My  uncle,"  he  says,  "  would  now  delay 
me  no  longer,  and  I  took  my  leave  of  them 
and  bid  them  farewell.  My  parting  with 
them  was  disagreeable  to  them  and  to  me, 
but  I  was  willing  to  leave  all  my  relations, 
friends  and  acquaintance ;  expected  to  see 
them  no  more  in  this  world.  We  set  out 
on  our  journey  towards  the  Seal  Islands,  on 
the  N.  W.  part  of  America.  On  these 
islands  the  captain  left  twenty  or  thirty  men 
for  sealing  business  on  his  way  to  Owhyhee. 
We  found  them  safe.  Among  these  men  I 
found  a  very  desirable  young  man,  by  name 
Russell  Hubbard,  a  son  of  Gen.  H.  of  New- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  13 

Haven.  This  Mr.  Hubbard  was  a  member 
of  Yale  College.  He  was  a  friend  of  Christ. 
Christ  was  with  him  when  I  saw  him,  but  I 
knew  it  not. — '  Happy  is  the  man  that  put 
his  trust  in  God !'  Mr.  Hubbard  was  very 
kind  to  me  on  our  passage,  and  taught  me  the 
letters  in  English  spelling-book. 

"  We  continued  on  these  islands  during 
six  months,  then  took  ©ur  course  towards 
Owhyhee.  Two  of  my  countrymen  were 
with  me  in  the  ship.  One  of  them  concluded 
to  stay  at  Owhyhee,  and  the  other  to  pro- 
ceed on  the  voyage.  The  ship  delayed  no 
longer  than  a  few  days,  and  we  set  out  for 
China,  on  our  direct  course  to  America. — 
On  our  way  towards  China  my  poor  friend 
Thomas  fell  overboard.  He  was  so  careless, 
not  knowing  what  he  was  about,  he  went 
outside  of  the  ship  and  drew  salt  water  to 
wash  plates  with  (for  he  was  a  cabin's  boy.) 
When  the  ship  rolled  he  got  in  the  water. 
The  captain  calls  all  hands  upon  the  deck, 
and  ordered  to  have  all  the  sails  pulled  down 
in  order  to  let  about. — While  we  were  work- 
ing upon  our  sails,  my  friend  Thomas  was 
out  of  sight.  While  he  was  in  the  water  he 
pulls  all  off  his  clothes  in  order  to  be  lighter 
— We  turned  our  ship  and  went  back  after 
him  We  found  him  almost  dead.  He  was 
in  the  water  during  the  space  of  two  and  a 
half  hours.  0  how  glad  was  I  then  to  see 
him — for  he  was  already  gone. 


14  MEMOIRS  OF 

"  We  took  our  direct  course  from  hence  as 
it  was  before.  Soon  we  landed  at  an  island 
belonging  to  that  part  of  China,  and  in  the 
evening  after  the  sun-down  we  anchored.  On 
the  next  morning  we  fired  one  of  our  cannon 
for  a  pilot.  When  we  had  fired  once  or 
twice,  there  was  another  ship  of  war  belong- 
ing to  the  British,  which  stood  about  four  or 
five  miles  apart  from  us. 

"  As  soon  as  they  heard  our  cannon,  they 
sent  one  of  their  brigs.  We  were  then  ta- 
ken by  it  for  a  while.  They  took  our  cap- 
tain and  he  went  on  board  the  men  of  war's 
ship.  He  was  there  for  a  number  of  days. 
After  this  the  Englishmen  agreed  to  let  us 
go.  We  therefore  leave  that  place,  called 
Mocow  or  Mockow,  (Mocao)  and  directed 
our  course  to  the  city  of  Canton.  We  were 
there  until  we  sold  out  all  our  seal-skins  and 
loaded  our  ship  with  other  sort  of  goods  ; 
such  as  tea,  cinnamon,  nankeens  and  silk, 
&c.  At  the  end  of  six  months  we  steered  a 
direct  course  to  America.  At  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  or  before  it,  our  sailors  on 
board  the  ship  began  to  terrify  at  us. — They 
said  that  there  was  a  man  named  Neptune 
who  lived  in  that  place  and  his  abiding  place 
was  in  the  sea.  In  the  evening  the  sailors 
begun  the  act. — One  of  them  took  an  old 
great  coat  and  put  on  him,  and  with  a  speak- 
ing trumpet  in  his  hand,  and  his  head  was 
covered  with  a  sheep-skin ;  and  he  went  for- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  15 

ward  of  the  ship  and  making  a  great  noise. 
About  this  time  friend  Thomas  and  myself 
were  on  the  quarter-deck,  hearing  some  of 
them  telling  about  Neptune's  coming  with 
an  iron  canoe,  and  iron  paddle.  Friend 
Thomas  questioned  whether  the  iron  canoe 
will  not  sink  down  in  the  water.  '  No,' 
said  some  of  them,  *  he  will  make  it  light, 
for  he  is  a  God.'  While  we  were  talking, 
the  first  we  heard  the  sound  of  trumpet  as 
follows, — 'Ship  hail!  from  whence  came 
you  ?' — The  captain  immediately  giving  an 
answer  in  this  manner:  'From  Canton.' 
1  Have  you  got  my  boys  ?'  said  the  old  Nep- 
tune.— '  Yes,'  answered  the  captain. — 
1  How  many  boys  have  you  ?'  added  the  old 
Neptune.  '  Two,'  said  the  captain,  (that 
is  myself  and  friend  Thomas.)  As  soon  as 
we  both  heard  the  captain  says  '  two,'  we 
both  scared  almost  to  death  :  and  wished  we 
were  at  home.  The  old  Neptune  wished  to 
see  us ;  but  we  dare  not  come  near  at  it. 
He  continued  calling  to  us  to  come  to  him, 
or  else  he  would  take  both  of  us  to  be  as  his 
servants.  We  therefore  went  up  imme- 
diately and  shook  our  hands  with  him  in 
friendly  manner.  I  thought  that  he  was 
quite  an  old  age  ;  by  seeing  his  long  beards 
and  his  head  covered  with  gray  hairs:  for 
his  head  was  covered  with  a  sheep-kin. 
After  our  conversation  with  him  he  wished 
for  drink.     So  that  I   went  and  filled  two 


16  MEMOIRS  OF 

pails  full  of  salt-water,  (as  the  sailors  had 
told  us,)  and  I  set  them  before  him.  Then 
he  took  his  speaking  trumpet  and  put  it  in 
my  mouth  for  tunnel,  in  order  to  make  me 
drink  that  salt-water  which  I  brought.  But 
while  he  stoops  down  to  reach  the  pail  of 
water,  I  took  hold  of  the  speaking  trumpet 
and  hold  it  one  side  of  my  cheek,  so  that  I 
may  not  drink  a  drop  of  salt  water  :  did  not 
any  body  knew  it  for  it  was  dark.  But 
friend  Thomas  he  was  so  full  of  scare,  he 
took  down  a  great  deal  of  salt  water.  On 
the  next  morning  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
puked  from  the  morning  until  the  evening. 

"  About  this  time  our  provision  was  almost 
out.  We  had  no  bread,  meat  and  water, 
save  only  one  biscuit  a-day  and  one  pint  of 
water ;  only  when  the  cook  put  in  our  tea. 
We  were  looking  out  for  a  vessel  for  a  long 
time.  Within  a  few  days  we  come  close  to 
a  schooner  going  to  the  West  Indies ;  sailed 
from  Boston.  We  fired  at  her  in  order  to 
stop  her.  So  did  she.  We  got  from  them 
as  much  provision  as  we  wished,  and  this 
lasted  us  until  we  got  to  New  York. 

"  We  landed  at  New  York  in  the  year 
1809 ;  continued  there  a  few  weeks,  and  af- 
ter the  captain  sold  out  all  the  goods  that 
are  in  the  ship,  we  then  parted  with  all  our 
sailors ;  every  one  to  go  to  their  own  home. 
But  friend  Thomas  and  myself  continued 
with  the   captain.     One  evening  two  gen- 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  17 

tlemen  called  on  board  the  ship  to  see  us. 
After  our  conversation  was  made  with  them, 
they  wished  us  to  go  with  them  into  a  play- 
house, to  show  the  curiosity.  We  then 
went  with  them  into  the  playhouse  and  saw 
a  great  number  of  peoples,  as  I  ever  saw  be- 
fore. We  staid  during  the  forepart  of  the 
evening,  then  went  on  board  the  ship.  The 
next  morning  the  same  two  gentlemen  called 
again  and  invited  us  to  come  to  their  house 
that  forenoon.  So  that  we  both  went.  I 
thought  while  in  the  house  of  these  two  gen- 
tlemen how  strange  to  see  females  eat  with 
men. 

"Within  a  few  days  we  left  our  ship  and 
went  home  with  Captain  B.  to  New-Haven  ; 
the  place  where  he  lived.  There  I  lived 
with  him  for  some  time.  In  this  place  I 
become  acquainted  with  many  students  be- 
longing to  the  College.  By  these  pious  stu- 
dents 1  was  told  more  about  God  than  what 
I  had  heard  before ;  but  I  was  so  ignorant 
that  I  could  not  see  into  it  whether  it  was 
so.  Many  times  I  wished  to  hear  more  about 
God,  but  find  no  body  to  interpret  it  to  me. 
I  attended  many  meetings  on  the  sabbath, 
but  find  difficulty  to  understand  the  minis- 
ter. I  could  understand  or  speak  but  very 
little  of  the  English  language.  Friend  Tho- 
mas went  to  school  to  one  of  the  students  in 
the  college  before  I  thought  of  going  to 
school.     I  heard   that  a  ship  was  ready  to 


18  MEMOIRS  OF 

sail  from  New  York  within  a  few  days  for 
Owhyhee.  The  captain  was  willing  that  I 
might  take  leave  of  this  country  and  go  home 
if  I  wish.  But  this  was  disagreeable  to  my 
mind.  I  wished  to  continue  in  this  country 
a  little  longer.  I  staid  another  week — saw 
Mr.  E.  W.  D.  who  first  taught  me  to  read 
and  write.  The  first  time  I  saw  him,  he 
inquired  whether  I  was  one  who  came  over 
with  Thomas,  (for  Thomas  was  known  among 
many  scholars  in  College.)  I  told  him  I 
was  one  who  came  over  with  Thomas.  He 
then  asked  me  if  I  wished  to  learn  to  read 
and  write.  I  told  him  that  I  was.  He  wished 
me  to  come  to  his  room  that  night  and  be- 
gin to  learn.  So  that  1  went  in  the  evening 
and  began  to  read  in  the  spelling-book.  Mr. 
D.  wished  me  to  come  to  his  room  at  any 
time  when  it  is  agreeable  to  the  captain 
with  whom  I  then  lived.  I  went  home  that 
night,  and  the  next  morning  I  mentioned  all 
this  matter  to  the  captain.  He  was  pleased, 
and  he  wished  me  to  go  to  school  to  Mr.  D. 
Thus  I  continued  in  school  with  him  for 
several  months." 

When  Obookiah  was  first  discovered  at 
New-Haven  by  the  person  of  whom  he 
speaks,  his  appearance  was  unpromising. 
He  was  clothed  in  a  rough  sailor's  suit,  was 
of  a  clumsy  form,  and  his  countenance  dull 
and  heavy.  His  friend  had  almost  deter- 
mined   to   pass   him   by,    as   one   whom   it 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  19 

would  be  in  vain  to  notice  and  attempt  to 
instruct.  But  when  the  question  was  put 
him,  "Do  you  wish  to  learn?"  his  counte- 
nance began  to  brighten.  And  when  the 
proposal  was  made  that  he  should  come  the 
next  day  to  the  college  for  that  purpose,  he 
served  it  with  great  eagerness. 

It  was  not  long  after  he  began  to  study, 
and  had  obtained  some  farther  knowledge 
of  the  English  language,  that  he  gave  evi- 
dence, that  the  dullness,  which  was  thought 
to  be  indicated  by  his  countenance,  formed 
no  part  of  his  character.  It  soon  appeared 
that  his  eyes  were  open  to  every  thing  that 
was  passing  around  him,  and  that  he  had  an 
unusual  degree  of  discernment  with  regard 
to  persons  and  things  of  every  description 
that  came  within  his  notice.  The  first  exhi- 
bition that  was  made  of  this  trait  in  his  cha- 
racter, and  indeed  the  first  decisive  evidence 
he  furnished  that  his  mind  was  less  inactive 
than  had  been  supposed,  was  in  the  following 
incident. 

When  he  began  to  read  in  words  of  one 
or  two  syllables  in  the  spelling-book,  there 
were  certain  sounds  which  he  found  it  very 
difficult  to  articulate.  This  was  true,  espe- 
cially of  syllables  that  contained  the  letter 
R :  a  letter  which  occasioned  him  more 
trouble  than  all  others.  In  pronouncing  it, 
he  uniformly  gave  it  the  sound  of  L.  At 
every  different  reading  an  attempt  was  made 


20  MEMOIRS  OF 

to  correct  the  pronunciation.  The  language 
generally  used  on  such  occasions  was,  "  Try, 
Obookiah,  it  is  very  easy."  This  was  often 
repeated.  But  it  was  soon  perceived,  that 
whenever  these  words  were  used  they  ex- 
cited a  smile.  And  as  patience  began  to  be 
tried  by  many  unsuccessful  attempts,  and 
the  words  to  be  used  more  in  earnest,  he  was 
observed  to  turn  away  his  face  for  the  pur- 
pose of  concealment,  and  seemed  much  di- 
verted. As  he  was  unable  to  express  his 
thoughts  except  by  acts,  no  explanation  was 
made  and  none  demanded.  The  reason  was 
scarcely  perceived.  But  as  the  attempts  to 
correct  the  error  were  at  last  successful,  the 
circumstance  was  soon  forgotten.  A  short 
time  after  this,  long  enough,  however,  for 
Obookiah  to  have  made  some  improvement 
in  speaking  the  English,  his  instructor  was 
spending  an  evening  pleasantly  with  him,  in 
making  inquiries  concerning  some  of  the 
habits  and  practices  of  his  own  country. 
Among  other  things  Obookiah  mentioned 
the  manner  in  which  his  countrymen  drank 
from  a  spring,  when  out  upon  their  hunting 
excursions.  The  cup  which  they  used  was 
their  hands.  It  was  made  by  clasping  them 
together,  and  so  adjusting  the  thumbs,  and 
bending  the  hands,  as  to  form  a  vessel  which 
would  contain  a  considerable  quantity.  Of  this 
he  gave  an  example  ;  and  after  preparing  his 
hands,  was  able,  from  the  pliablenes's  of  his 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  21 

arms,  to  raise  them  entirely  to  his  mouth, 
without  turning  them  at  all  from  their  hori- 
zontal position.  The  experiment  was  at- 
tempted by  his  instructor :  but  he  found 
that  before  his  hands  were  raised  half  the 
distance  to  his  mouth,  they  were  so  much 
inverted,  that  their  contents  would  have 
been  principally  lost.  He  repeated  the  trial 
until  he  began  to  be  discouraged ;  when 
Obookiah,  who  had  been  much  amused  with 
his  efforts,  with  a  very  expressive  counte- 
nance said  to  him,  "Try,  Mr.  D.,  it  is  very 
easy."  The  former  mystery  was  now  un- 
ravelled, and  an  important  lesson  taught  with 
respect  to  the  ease  or  difficulty,  with  which 
things  are  done  by  us,  that  are  or  are  not  na- 
tural to  us ;  or  to  which  we  have  or  have  not 
been,  from  early  life,  accustomed. 

About  this  time  it  was  discovered  that 
Obookiah  noticed  with  uncommon  acuteness 
and  interest,  every  singularity  in  the  speech 
and  manners  of  those  around  him.  And  in 
the  midst  of  his  own  awkwardness,  to  the 
surprise  of  all  who  were  conversant  with 
him,  he  suddenly  began  to  show  himself 
dexterous  as  a  mimic.  He  one  day  placed 
himself  upon  the  floor,  drew  up  his  sleeves 
half  way  to  the  elbow,  walked  across  the 
room  with  a  peculiar  air,  and  said  "  Who 
dis  ?"  The  person  intended  was  instantly 
known  by  all  that  were  present.  He  then 
put  himself  in  a  different  position,  changed 


22  MEMOIRS  OF 

his  gait,  and  said  again,  "  Well,  who  di»V' 
This  imitation  also  was  so  accurate,  of 
another  of  the  members  of  college,  that  no 
one  doubted  with  regard  to  the  original. 
The  extent  of  his  own  awkwardness  at  this 
time  may  be  learned  from  the  effect  which 
an  exhibition  of  it  produced  upon  himself. 
After  he  had  completed  his  own  efforts  at 
mimicry,  his  friend  said  to  him,  "  Well, 
Obookiah,  should  you  like  to  know  how  you 
walk  ?"  He  seemed  much  pleased  with  the 
suggestion,  and  the  imitation  was  attempted. 
He  was  greatly  diverted,  though  almost  in- 
credulous, and  said  with  earnestness — several 
times  repeating  the  question — "  Me  walk 
so?"  After  being  assured  that  it  was  a  re- 
ality, he  burst  into  a  loud  roar  of  laughter 
and  fell  upon  the  floor,  where  he  indulged 
his  mirth  until  he  had  exhausted  his 
strength. 

The  same  trait  of  character  was  discover- 
able in  the  manner  in  which  he  was  affected 
with  respect  to  the  idols  of  the  heathen,  upon 
the  first  instruction  given  him  concerning 
the  true  God.  He  was  at  once  very  sensibly 
impressed  with  the  ludicrous  nature  of  idol 
worship.  Smiling  at  its  absurdity,  he  said, 
"  Owhyhee  gods!  they  ivood,  burn;  Me  go 
home,  put  'em  in  a  fire,  burn  'em  up.  They 
no  see,  no  hear,  no  any  thing" — then  added, — 
"  We  make  them — Our  God,  (looking  up)  He 
make  us." 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  23 

The  history  proceeds — "  Now  I  wished 
no  more  to  live  with  captain  any  longer,  but 
rather  wished  to  live  somewhere  else,  where 
I  could  have  an  opportunity  to  learn  to  write 
and  read.  I  went  to  my  friend  Mr.  D.,  who 
was  to  be  my  best  and  kind  friend ;  I  made 
known  to  him  all  my  desire.  I  told  him 
that  I  wished  to  live  where  I  could  have  an 
opportunity  to  get  in  some  school,  and  work 
a  part  of  the  time.  He  then  wished  me  to 
live  with  President  Dwight.  This  satisfied 
me  ;  I  went  with  him  to  Dr.  Dwight's  house. 
I  lived  with  this  pious  and  good  family  for 
some  time,  and  went  to  school  to  the  same 
man  as  before.  While  I  lived  with  these 
good  people  I  have  more  time  to  attend  to 
my  book  than  I  ever  did  before.  Here  was 
the  first  time  I  meet  with  praying  family 
morning  and  evening.  It  was  difficult  for 
me  to  understand  what  was  said  in  prayer, 
but  I  doubt  not  this  good  people  were  pray- 
ing for  me  while  T  was  with  them ;  seeing 
that  I  was  ignorant  of  God  and  my  Saviour. 
I  heard  of  God,  as  often  as  I  lived  with  this 
family,  and  I  believed  but  little.  Whilst  I 
lived  at  Dr.  Dwight's,  I  went  up  to  my 
school  room  one  evening,  and  saw  Mr.  S.  J. 
M.,  a  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  S.  J.  I.,  of  Torring- 
ford,  sitting  with  Mr.  D.  my  instructor. 
Mr.  D.  wished  me  to  make  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  M.  So  did  I — (and  shook  hands 
with  him.)      Mr.    M.   continued    in    New 


24  MEMOIRS  OF 

Haven  for  several  months.  During  this  time 
he  wished  me  to  go  home  with  him ;  he 
says  he  has  a  good  father,  mother,  bro- 
ther and  sister.  This  requesting  was  very 
pleasing  to  me — so  that  I  consented.  I  then 
left  New-Haven  and  went  home  with  Mr. 
M.  I  lived  with  this  family  in  the  year 
1810.  These  people  were  the  most  judicious 
and  kindest  people.  I  was  treated  by  them 
in  the  most  affectionate  manner — (yet  not 
knowing  who  brought  me  there,  for  I  was 
very  ignorant  of  him  who  gave  me  so  many 
good  friends  in  this  country.)  It  seemed  to 
me  as  my  own  home.  It  was.  And  I  have 
made  my  home  there  frequently.  I  could 
say  much  of  them,  but  what  more  can  I  do, 
but  to  remember  their  kindness  toward  me. 
While  I  was  with  them  I  continued  my  study 
in  spelling,  reading  and  writing,  to  Mr.  J. 
F.  M.  a  brother  of  Mr.  M.  whom  I  was  ac- 
quainted with  at  the  first.  Here  I  learned 
some  sort  of  farming  business:  cutting  wood, 
pulling  flax,  mowing.  &lc. — only  to  look  at 
the  other  and  learn  from  them." 

As  Obookiah  was  to  obtain,  in  part,  his 
support  at  Mr.  Mills's  by  his  labour,  he  was 
immediately  set  about  most  kinds  of  busi- 
ness that  pertain  to  a  farm.  And  though 
this  was  a  new  employment  to  him,  he  was 
found  to  excel  in  every  thing  to  which  he 
turned  his  hand.  One  glance  at  others  for 
an  example  was  all  the  instruction  that  he 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  25 

required,  before  he  was  ready  to  undertake, 
and  to  perform  skilfully,  every  kind  of  la- 
bour. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Mills,  sufficiently  illustrates  this 
part  of  his  character. 

"  There  was  something  unusual  in  regard 
to  Obookiah.  His  attention  to  what  passed 
before  him,  and  his  talent  at  imitation,  were 
singular.  He  had  never  mown  a  clip  until 
he  came  to  live  with  me.  My  son  furnished 
him  with  a  scythe.  He  stood  and  looked  on 
to  see  the  use  he  made  of  it,  and  at  once  fol- 
lowed, to  the  surprise  of  those  who  saw  him. 
We  had  a  spell  at  reaping.  We  furnished 
him  with  a  sickle.  He  stood  and  looked, 
and  followed  on.  It  was  afterwards  observ- 
ed by  a  person  who  was  in  the  field,  that 
there  were  not  two  reapers  there  who  ex- 
celled him. 

"In  these  respects  and  others,  he  was 
truly  a  remarkable  youth." 

While  Obookiah  remained  in  the  family 
of  Mr.  Mills,  "  every  possible  attention  was 
paid  to  the  improvement  of  his  mind,  and 
his  progress  was  such  as  to  convince  those 
who  instructed  him  that  their  labour  was 
not  in  vain.  He  soon  acquired  a  knowledge 
of  the  spelling-book,  and  in  a  few  months 
was  able  to  read  in  the  Testament.  By  this 
c 


*b  MEMOIRS  OF 

time  he  had  also  made  considerable  profi- 
ciency in  writing.  It  was  observed  that  he 
learned  to  talk  English  just  as  fast  as  he 
learned  to  read  it.  When  he  became  able  to 
communicate  his  ideas  in  a  broken  manner, 
he  would  express  a  very  tender  concern  for 
his  countrymen."* 

Henry  now  made  his  first  essay  at  letter- 
writing.  His  first  letter  was  written  to  his 
friend  Thomas  at  New-Haven,  and  the  se- 
cond to  his  former  instructor.  The  last  has 
been  preserved,  and  for  reasons  that  will  be 
obvious,  is  here  inserted. — The  following  is 
an  exact  copy : 

"  Torringford,  March  2,  1810. 
•<  Mr.  E.  D.,  Sir, 

':  I  here  now — this  place,  Torringford — 
I  glad  see  you  very  much.  I  laugh  Tom 
Hoboo — he  say — '  Obooki  write  me  that  r 
Me  no  write.'  I  want  you  tell  Tom  Mr.  S. 
Mills  say  if  we  be  good  boys  we  shall  have 
friends.  One  morning  you  know  I  come 
into  your  room  in  college,  and  you  tell  me 
— read — you  say,  what  c.a.p.  spel!?  then  I  say 
c.a.p.  pig.  I  spell  four  syllables  now,  and  I 
say  what  is  the  chief  end  of  man.  I  like 
you  much.  I  like  your  brother,  and  your 
friend   Mr.    Dean.     I    wear  this  great  coat 

*  f(  Narrative  of  Heathen  Youth." 


HENRY  0B00K1AH.  27 

you  gave  me  to  meeting  every  Sunday.  I 
wish  you  would  write  me  a  letter  and  tell  me 
what  Tom  do. 

"  This  from 

"  Henry  Obooki." 

"  Mrs.  M.  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  M." 
continues  Obookiah,  "  was  a  very  amiable 
woman,  and  I  was  treated  by  her  as  her  own 
child.  She  used  me  kindly,  and  learned  me 
to  say  the  Catechism. 

"  Many  ministers  called  on  the  Rev.  Mr. 
M.,  and  I  was  known  by  a  great  number  of 
ministers.  But  on  account  of  my  ignorance 
of  the  true  God,  I  do  not  wish  to  hear  them 
when  they  talk  to  me.  I  would  not  wish  to 
be  in  the  room  where  they  were  ;  neither  did 
I  wish  to  come  near  to  a  minister,  for  the 
reason  that  he  should  talk  to  me  about  God, 
whom  I  hated  to  hear.  I  was  told  by  them 
about  heaven  and  hell,  but  I  did  not  pay 
any  attention  to  what  they  say  ;  for  I  thought 
that  I  was  just  as  happy  as  the  other  people, 
as  those  who  do  know  about  God  much  more 
than  I  do.  But  this  thought,  as  I  see  to  it 
now,  was  the  most  great  and  dangerous  mis- 
take. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  year  1810,  I  left  this 
place,  and  went  to  Andover.  I  continued 
there  for  some  time.  Here  my  wicked  heart 
began  to  see  a  little  about  the  divine  things ; 
but  the  more  I  see  to  it,  the  more  it  appear 


28  MEMOIRS  OF 

to  be  impenetrability.  I  took  much  satisfac- 
tion in  conversing  with  many  students  in  the 
Institution.  I  spent  a  little  time  with  some 
of  them,  and  in  going  to  one  room  and  to 
another  to  recite  to  them  :  for  I  was  taken 
under  their  care.  Whenever  I  got  a  lesson 
I  had  a  right  to  go  to  any  room  in  college 
to  recite.  While  I  was  there  for  a  long  time, 
my  friend  Mr.  M.  was  there ;  one  of  my 
kindest  friends  that  I  had,  who  took  me 
away  from  his  father's  house.  This  young 
Mr.  M.  was  studying  divinity  at  the  col- 
lege where  I  was  instructed  by  the  stu- 
dents." 

It  was  at  this  time  and  with  the  friend 
who  has  been  mentioned,  that  Obookiah 
made  his  first  attempt  to  pray  in  the  presence 
of  another.  "  His  friend  having  knelt  down 
and  prayed,  turning  to  him  before  they  rose, 
said,  '  you  may  pray.' — When  he  delivered 
himself,  in  substance,  in  the  following 
terms." 

"  Great  and  eternal  God — make  heaven 
- — make  earth — make  every  thing — have 
mercy  on  me — make  me  understand  the  Bi- 
ble— make  me  good — great  God  have  mercy 
on  Thomas — make  him  good — make  Tho- 
mas and  me  go  back  Owhyhee — tell  folks  in 
Owhyhee,  no  more  pray  to  stone  god — make 
some  good  man  go  with  me  to  Owhyhee, 
tell  folks  in  Owhyhee  about  Heaven — about 
Hell — God    make    all    people    good    every 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  29 

where- — great  God  have  mercy  on  college — 
make  all  good — make  Mr.  Samuel  good — 
have  mercy  on  Mr.  Samuel's  father,  mother, 
sister,  brother." — "  Our  father  which  art  in 
heaven,"  &,c. 

"  My  friend,  Mr.  M.,  now  thought  it 
would  be  well  for  me  to  leave  Andover,  and 
go  to  some  school,  where  I  may  improve  my 
time  much  more  than  I  could  there.  He 
said  if  I  should  go  he  would  try  to  find  some 
good  people  who  would  be  willing  to  sup- 
port me.  This  was  a  most  kind  offer,  which 
I  cannot  feel  any  more  than  to  be  thankful 
for  all  this  kindness  to  me.  Mr.  M.  now 
sent  me  to  Bradford  Academy  ;  and  there  I 
continued  for  some  time  at  school.  The 
people  where  I  boarded,  at  the  house  of  Dea- 
con H.  were  a  most  pious  family.  But  while 
I  was  here  in  the  school,  my  serious  feelings, 
which  I  had  before,  lost  all  ;  and  become 
very  ignorant  of  religion  by  being  among 
some  iinserious  company,  talking  many  fool- 
ish subjects.  I  thought  now  I  shall  never 
have  any  more  such  feelings  as  I  had  before 
— I  thought  that  I  must  always  be  misera- 
ble here  and  hereafter,  I  became  prayerless 
and  thoughtless — no  hope  for  mercy — never 
attempted  to  be  alone  as  I  had  done  before. 
I  sit  and  walked  about  all  day — took  no  op- 
portunity to  be  at  the  throne  of  grace,  but 
rather  to  be  stupid — from  the  morning  until 
evening  never  thought  of  him  who  kept  me 
c2 


30  MEMOIRS   OF 

alive  ;  neither  when  I  lay  down  upon  my  bed. 
nor  when  I  rose  up.  I  was  in  this  situation 
for  a  long  time,  while  I  was  at  school.  At  the 
close  of  the  school  I  went  back  to  Andover. 
Mr.  M.  was  not  there.  It  was  vacation.  I 
staid  until  he  returned.  When  he  returned 
he  inquired  how  I  have  been,  and  how  I  was 
pleased  with  the  school.  I  answered  well. 
But  I  did  not  let  him  know  what  was  my 
situation,  and  what  trouble  I  had  met  with 
while  I  was  there,  but  kept  all  these  things 
in  my  own  mind. 

"  In  the  spring  season  of  the  year  1811,  I 
hired  myself  out  for  a  month  or  two,  on  ac- 
count of  my  health,  with  Mr.  F.  who  lived 
about  five  miles  from  the  college.  Mr.  F. 
one  day  sent  me  into  the  woods  not  far  from 
the  house  to  work.  I  took  an  axe  and  went 
and  worked  there  till  towards  noon.  But 
here  O  !  I  come  to  myself  again  !  many 
thoughts  come  into  my  mind  that  I  was  in 
a  dangerous  situation.  I  thought  that  if  I 
should  then  die,  I  must  certainly  be  cast  off 
for  ever.  While  I  was  working,  it  appear- 
ed as  it  was  a  voice  saying,  •  Cut  it  down, 
why  cumbereth  it  the  ground.'  I  worked 
no  longer — but  dropped  my  axe,  and  walked 
a  few  steps  from  the  place  (for  the  people  in 
the  house  would  soon  send  a  lad  after  me, 
for  it  was  noon.)  I  fell  upon  my  knees  and 
looked  up  to  the  Almighty  Jehovah  for  help. 
I  was  not  but  an  undone  and  hell-deserving 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  31 

sinner.  I  felt  that  it  would  be  just  that  God 
should  cast  me  off  withersoever  he  would 
— that  he  should  do  with  my  poor  soul  as  it 
seemed  to  him  fit.  I  spent  some  time  here 
until  I  heard  a  boy  calling  for  me — and  I 
went.  The  people  in  the  house  asked  of  my 
sadness — to  which  I  gave  but  little  answer. 
In  the  night  my  sleep  was  taken  away  from 
me.  I  kept  awake  almost  the  whole  night. 
Many  of  my  feelings  and  thoughts  in  past 
time  came  into  remembrance — and  how  I 
treated  the  mercy  of  God  while  I  was  at 
Bradford  Academy.  The  next  morning  I 
rose  up  before  the  rest,  and  went  to  a  place 
where  I  was  alone  by  myself.  Here  I  went 
both  morning,  night  and  noon.  At  this  little 
place  I  find  some  comfort.  And  when  I  go 
there  I  enjoy  myself  better  all  the  day. 

"  At  the  end  of  two  months  I  returned  to 
Andover.  Many  times  Mr.  M.  asked  me 
about  my  feelings,  and  I  was  neither  willing 
to  answer  much,  nor  could  I,  on  account  of 
my  unfruitfulness  and  wickedness. 

"  I  continued  here  a  few  days  and  then 
hired  myself  out  again,  and  went  to  labour 
for  Mr.  A.  a  farmer,  in  haying  time.  Mr.  A. 
was  a  good  man,  and  it  was  a  religious  fa- 
mily. I  had  here  the  same  seriousness  in 
my  mind  as  before,  but  never  did  meet  with 
real  change  of  heart  yet." 

During  Obookiah's  residence  at  Andover. 
he  lived  two  years  in  the  family  of  Mr.  A 


32  MEMOIRS   OF 

the  steward  of  the  Theological  Institution 
This  family  bears  very  favourable  testimony 
to  the  excellence  of  his  character.  They 
speak  of  him  with  tears.  Said  Mrs.  A.  to 
a  friend,  M  He  was  always  pleasant.  I  never 
saw  him  angry.  He  used  to  come  into  my 
chamber  and  kneel  down  by  me  and  pray. 
Mr.  M.  did  not  think  he  was  a  christian  at 
that  time,  but  he  appeared  to  be  thinking  of 
nothing  else  but  religion.  He  afterwards 
told  me  that  there  was  a  time  when  he 
wanted  to  get  religion  into  his  head  more  than 
into  his  heart." 

In  an  absence  of  a  month  or  two  from  the 
family,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Mrs.  A.  from 
which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  I  sometimes  think  about  my  poor  soul, 
and  that  which  God  hath  done.  I  will  cry 
unto  God — '  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?' 
I  know  that  God  is  able  to  take  away  blind 
eyes  and  wicked  heart.  We  must  be  born 
again  and  have  a  new  spirit  before  we  die. 
As  soon  as  we  shall  be  dead,  all  we  must 
stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ. 
Friend,  perhaps  you  have  not  done  any  thing 
wicked,  so  that  God  can  punish  you.  I  hope 
you  have  not.  But  if  we  are  not  his  friends 
and  followers  he  will  cast  us  into  hell,  and 
we  shall  be  there  for  ever  and  ever.  I  hope 
you  will  think  upon  all  these  things.  Friend 
to  you,  "  Henry  Obookiah." 


HENRY   OBOOKIAH.  33 

Whilst  at  Andover  Obookiah  heard  that 
one  of  his  countrymen  resided  in  the  vicini- 
ty. He  hastened  to  him  and  spent  a  part  of 
a  day  with  him,  and  a  night  in  which  they 
did  not  sleep.  When  he  returned,  a  friend 
said  to  him,  "  Well  Henry,  what  news  from 
Owhyhee  ?"  He  replied,  "I  did  not  think  of 
Owhyhee,  I  had  so  much  to  say  about  Jesus 
Christ:' 

Henry  had  now  become  diligent  in  study- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  made  rapid  progress 
in  religious  knowledge.  The  following  fact 
is  a  specimen  of  what  he  had  attained. 

He  was  asked,  "How  many  miracles  are 
recorded  of  our  Saviour?"  He  began  with 
the  first,  that  of  making  water  wine,  and 
mentioned  them  all. 

In  a  letter  from  Andover,  communicating 
the  preceding  facts,  it  is  observed,  "Mr.  A. 
the  steward,  says,  Henry  was  very  inquisi- 
tive, and  could  never  be  satisfied  until  he 
saw  the  whole  of  a  subject.  This  was  pecu- 
liarly observable  during  an  eclipse  of  the 
sun,  concerning  which  he  asked  many  trou- 
blesome questions :  and  also  with  regard  to 
many  kinds  of  public  business ;  particularly 
the  mode  of  levying,  collecting,  and  appro- 
priating taxes. 

"  He  was  seen  one  morning  very  early 
with  a  rule  measuring  the  College  buildings 
and  fences.  He  was  asked  why  he  did  it.  He 
smiled,    and   said,    '  So  that   I   shall   know 


34  MEMOIRS  OF 

how  to  build  when  I  go  back  to  Owhy- 
hee.' 

"  When  he  heard  a  word,"  said  Mr.  A. 
"  which  he  did  not  understand  or  could  not 
speak,  it  was  his  constant  habit  to  ask  me 
'  How  you  spell?  How  you  spell?1  When  I 
told  him  he  never  forgot." 

Henry  now  began  to  maintain  a  corres- 
pondence with  his  absent  friends:  a  prac- 
tice in  which  he  seemed  to  take  unusual 
pleasure  through  the  whole  of  his  future 
life. 

The  two  following  letters,  written  at  An- 
dover,  are  taken  from  the  "  Narrative  of 
Heathen  Youth."  "  They  were  exactly  co- 
pied from  the  original  with  a  few  corrections 
in  the  punctuation." 

"  Andover,  Dec.  15,  1812. 

"Dear  Christian  Friend, 

"  I  improve  this  opportunity  to  write  to 
you.  And  I  saw  your  beloved  book  which 
you  sent  by  Mr.  G.  and  that  I  very  much 
thank  you  for  it.  I  am  great  joy  to  God  to 
give  me  such  a  good  friend  in  this  land 
where  we  hear  the  words  of  God — God  is 
kind  to  us  and  to  the  other — that  is  to  every 
body  else.  God  will  carry  through  his  work 
for  us. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  will  God  do  with 
my  poor  soul.  I  shall  go  before  God  and  also 
both  Christ. 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  35 

"  We  must  all  try  to  get  forward  where 
God  wishes  us  to  do.  God  is  able  to  save 
sinners  if  we  have  some  feeling  in  him.  Is 
very  great  thing  to  have  hope  in  him,  and 
do  all  the  Christian  graces.  I  hope  the 
Lord  will  send  the  gospel  to  the  heathen 
land  where  the  words  of  the  Saviour  never 
yet  had  been.  Poor  people  worship  the  wood 
and  stone  and  shark,  and  almost  every  thing 
their  gods ;  the  Bible  is  not  there,  and  Hea- 
ven and  Hell  they  do  not  know  about.  I  yet 
in  this  country  and  no  father  and  no  mother. 
But  God  is  friend  if  I  will  do  his  will  and  not 
my  own  will." 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Mills  of  Torringford. 

"  Andover,  Jan.  27,  1813. 
s<  Very  Dear  Christian  Friend, 

"  I  improve  this  opportunity  to  write  to 
you  a  letter.  I  received  your  two  letters 
and  I  had  broken  the  seals  of  both  of  them, 
and  I  have  read  those  sweet  words  that 
make  my  poor  and  wicked  heart  feel  cold, 
as  like  cold  water.  0  Lord  how  long  shall  I 
continue  in  my  own  sins  ?  Lord  wilt  thou 
hear  my  secret  prayer  ? 

"Dear  sir,  I  hope  your  prayer  for  the 
poor  and  blind  immortal  souls  will  be  heard. 
I  thank  you  to  pray  for  me  beside  my  own 
prayer;     Pray  to  God  that   he   might  pour 


36  MEMOIRS  OF 

down  his  Holy  Spirit  upon  all  our  souls. — 
I  do  not  know  what  will  become  of  my  poor 
soul,  when  my  time  is  full  come  hereafter. 
But  in  my  own  -feeling  I  wish  his  will,  and 
I  am  willing  that  God  do  what  he  please  for 
my  poor  soul.  What  are  sweet  things  in 
this  world,  sinners  like  better  than  their  own 
souls  which  are  going  down  to  the  bottom- 
less pit.  0  how  wicked  and  sinful  are  we. 
How  shall  we  go  to  the  path  of  life  and  of 
his  truth,  and  be  with  him  in  Heaven.  No 
way  at  all ;  only  we  must  give  away  ourselves 
to  him  and  leave  all  our  sins  behind.  Some 
think  they  know  not  how  to  pray  ;  but  they 
ought  to  know,  for  Christ  hath  taught  us.  i 
went  to  Tyngebury  last  week  to  see  a  boy 
who  came  from  Owhyhee.  He  arrived  last 
June — (this  is  not  Thomas  who  came  with 
me.)  As  the  distance  from  this  place  was 
small,  I  went  to  visit  him.  I  hope  the  Lord 
will  have  mercy  upon  his  poor  soul.  He 
knew  nothing  of  the  Saviour  before  I  told 
him.  I  first  mentioned  to  him  Genesis  1., 
&c.  telling  him  that  God  made  the  world  by 
his  own  power ;  then  he  said,  0  how  foolish 
we  are  to  worship  wood  and  stone  gods ;  we 
give  them  hogs  and  cocoa  nuts  and  banana, 
but  they  cannot  eat.  Yes,  said  I,  it  is  fool- 
ish. Then  he  asked  me  where  that  man  was, 
that  made  every  thing.  I  told  him,  he  was 
every  where  with  us.  Does  he  hear  when 
vou  and  I  talk  ?  says  he.     I  told  him  yes, 


HENRY   OBOOKIAH.  -37 

and  you  must  believe  in  him  if  you  would  be 
his  friend.  He  said  he  did  believe  what  I 
told  him.  He  has  not  learned  to  understand 
English,  but  I  spoke  in  Owhyhee.  I  took 
him  with  me  to  the  minister's  house  on  Sab- 
bath evening,  so  I  told  him  in  Owhyhee 
what  Mr.  Allen  the  minister  said.  He  had 
been  before  but  could  not  understand  what 
was  said.  I  told  him  what  God  did  for  him 
in  keeping  him  alive  and  bringing  him  to 
this  country.  He  said  he  liked  that  man 
(meaning  God)  very  much.  He  asked  me 
many  questions  again  and  again  about  God, 
which  I  answered.  After  we  went  to  bed  he 
said  he  would  never  forget  what  I  had  told 
him.  He  said  when  he  eat  he  would  remem- 
ber who  gave  him  food.  The  people  where 
he  lived  said  he  might  stay  there  as  he  would  ; 
and  when  he  had  learned  English  a  little  he 
might  go  to  school.  He  did  cry  when  I  left 
him. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Mills, 
the  particular  patron  of  Obookiah,  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  board  of  commissioners  to 
take  a  missionary  tour  through  the  western 
and  southern  states.  Soon  after  his  depar- 
ture Obookiah  went  to  spend  several  months 
at  Hollis,  in  New  Hampshire. — "  Here,"  he 
says,  "  I  lived  with  two  good  men,  Dea.  E. 
and  Dea.  B.  and  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  S. 
While  I  was  in  this  place,  I  became  more 
thoughtful  about  myself.     I  attended  many 

D 


38  MEMOIRS  OF 

of  the  young  people's  meetings,  and  I  was 
quite  happy.  But  I  was  now  taken  sick  of 
a  fever  at  the  house  of  Dea.  B.  I  was  very 
weak  and  was  not  able  to  answer  to  the 
questions  of  those  who  came  to  visit  me. 
Then  thought  I,  where  shall  I  go  for  a  phy- 
sician, but  unto  thee  !  Death  had  but  a  little 
fear.  I  continued  sick  for  five  weeks.  The 
whole  family  of  Dea.  B.  were  very  kind.  I 
was  treated  with  the  most  affectionate  care 
during  the  whole  of  my  sickness.  Doctor 
C.  was  a  very  kind  and  friendly  man.  He 
was  a  pious  man  and  good  Christian.  Many 
times  he  prayed  with  me  while  I  was  upon 
my  sick  bed. 

"  One  day  Mrs.  B.  asked  me  whether  I 
was  willing  to  die  and  leave  this  world  of 
sin  and  go  to  the  better.  To  which  I  replied 
that  I  should  have  no  objection  if  God  should 
do  with  me  as  it  seemed  to  him  fit.  She 
added,  '  Do  you  remember  the  goodness 
and  the  kindness  of  God  toward  you  ?'  I 
answered  yes — For  I  have  neither  a  fathei 
nor  a  mother,  nor  a  brother  nor  a  sister  in 
this  strange  country  but  He.  But  0  !  am 
I  fit  to  call  him  my  father  ?  ■  Whosoever 
doeth  his  will  the  same  is  a  child  of  God.' 
No  longer  after  my  complaint  was  over  I 
began  to  experience  hope  in  religion.  I 
thought  often  concerning  the  happiness  of 
another  world  and  eternal  realities.  But 
my  mind  and  my  heart  of  wickedness  would 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  39 

often  turn  back  to  this  world :  (if  I  do  not 
think  about  the  serious  things.)  Many  times 
I  meet  with  dark  hour.  But  the  greatest 
part  of  the  time  I  took  much  comfort  and 
happiness,  both  in  my  secret  prayer  and  in 
serious  conversation  with  others.  I  thought 
now  with  myself,  that  I  have  met  with  a 
change  of  heart.  It  was  so  if  I  mistake  not. 
For  the  Lord  Jesus  did  appear  as  chiefest 
among  ten  thousand,  and  one  altogether 
lovely  ;  and  his  mercy  appeared  to  be  wel- 
come to  a  sinner  as  I." 

In  the  fall,  Henry  left  Hollis  and  returned 
to  Andover ;  where  he  remained  until  the 
succeeding  spring:  when  he  took  his  final 
leave  of  that  place,  and  went  ".  home"  to  the 
house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mills  in  Torringford. 
Here  he  passed  the  following  summer. 

During  this  residence  at  Mr.  Mills's,  he 
occasionally  visited  Litchfield,  to  see  the 
person  who  had  been  his  early  friend  at  New- 
Haven.  As  this  was  but  a  short  period  af- 
ter his  hopeful  conversion,  his  friend  was 
anxious  to  ascertain  what  knowledge  he  pos- 
sessed of  experimental  religion.  To  the 
questions  that  were  asked  him,  he  gave  an- 
swers which  clearly  evinced  that  on  this 
subject  he  had  thought  and  felt  for  himself; 
and  furnished  much  reason  to  hope  that  he 
had  been  savingly  instructed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit.  "  How  does  your  own  heart  appear 
to  you  ?"  was  a  question  put  to  him.     To 


40 


MEMOIRS    OF 


which  he  replied,  "O  black,  very  black." — 
"But  you  hope  you  have  a  new  heart,  how 
did  it  appear  to  you  before  it  was  changed?" 
"  Mud,"  he  said,   "  all  mud." 

His  conversation  was  at  this  time  much 
upon  the  subject  of  religion,  and  he  seemed, 
for  so  young  a  christian,  to  be  in  -an  uncom- 
mon degree  heavenly  minded.  He  said, 
"  When  I  at  home — at  Torringford — out  in 
the  field  I  can't  help  think  about  Heaven.  I 
go  in  a  meadow — work  at  the  hay — my 
hands — but  my  thought — no  there. — In  Hea- 
ven— all  time — then  I  very  happy." 

He  had  already  acquired  a  very  consider- 
able knowledge  of  the  Scriptures.  He  quoted 
passages  appropriate  to  almost  every  subject 
of  conversation.  It  was  evident  that  his 
mind  dwelt  upon  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and 
that  he  found  much  of  his  habitual  pleasure 
in  searching  out  the  less  obvious  treasures 
which  it  contained.*  He  manifested  great  in- 
quisitiveness  with  regard  to  passages  of 
Scripture  whose  meaning  he  did  not  entirely 
comprehend.  Many  passages  were  the  sub- 
ject of  inquiry.  One  only  is  recollected. 
"  What  our  Saviour  mean,"  said  he,  "when 
he  say,  '  In  my  father's  house  are  many  man- 
sions— I  go  prepare  a  place  for  you.'  What 
he  mean,  '/  go  prepare  a  place  V  " 

The  readiness  and  propriety  with  which 
he  quoted  passages  of  Scripture  on  every 
occasion,   were    particularly    noticed   by   all 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  41 

who  conversed  with  him.  In  one  of  his  visits 
he  asked  his  friend,  who  was  now  in  the 
study  of  Divinity,  to  go  aside,  as  if  he  had 
something  of  importance  which  he  wished 
to  reveal.  But  it  appeared  that  it  was  his 
object  to  converse  with  him  upon  the  subject 
of  accompanying  him  to  Ovvhyhee.  He  plead 
with  great  earnestness  that  he  would  go  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  his  poor  countrymen. 
Not  receiving  so  much  encouragement  as  he 
desired,  he  suspected  that  his  friend  might 
be  influenced  by  the  fear  of  the  consequences 
of  attempting  to  introduce  a  new  religion 
among  the  heathen.  Upon  which,  though 
he  had  now  just  begun  to  lisp  the  language 
of  the  scriptures,  he  said,  "  You  /raid?" 
You  know  our  Saviour  say,  "  He  that  will 
save  his  life  shall  lose  it ;  and  he  that  will  lose 
his  life  for  my  sake,  same  shall  save  it." 

His  own  fearlessness  and  zeal  on  this  sub- 
ject he  exhibited  about  the  same  time  to  an 
aged  Minister  who  asked  him  why  he  wish- 
ed to  return  to  Owhyhee.  He  replied,  "  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  my  countrymen."  He 
was  asked,  what  he  would  say  to  them  about 
their  wooden  gods.  He  answered  "  Nothing." 
"But,"  said  the  clergyman,  "suppose  your 
countrymen  should  tell  you  that  preaching 
Jesus  Christ  was  blaspheming  their  gods, 
and  should  put  you  to  death?"  To  this  he 
replied  with  great  emphasis,  "  If  that  be  the 
will  of  God,  /  am  ready,  I  am  ready.'1 

■n  <•> 


42  MEMOIRS    Of 

In  the  fall  of  1813,  Henry  was  invited 
by  James  Morris,  Esq.  of  Litchfield,  to  spend 
the  winter  in  his  family,  and  attend  the  pub- 
lic grammar  school,  of  which  for  many 
years  he  had  been  preceptor.  Here  Henry 
commenced  the  study  of  English  grammar, 
geography  and  arithmetic,  in  which  he 
made  during  the  winter  very  considerable 
progress.  In  the  spring  of  1814,  he  return- 
ed to  Mr.  Mills's,  and  spent  the  summer, 
principally  in  labouring  on  the  farm.  At 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  North  Consocia- 
tion of  Litchfield  county,  in  the  fall  of  1814, 
Henry,  by  the  advice  of  his  friends,  applied 
to  that  body  to  take  him  under  their  care, 
and  give  him  counsel  and  direction  as  to 
his  studies  and  other  concerns.  The  Con- 
sociation voted  to  comply  with  his  request, 
and  appointed  a  board  consisting  of  three 
persons,  to  superintend  his  education,  and 
report  to  the  Consociation  annually. 

After  Obookiah  was  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  Consociation,  he  pursued  his  studies 
under  the  direction  of  their  committee,  so 
far  as  the  charity  of  his  christian  friends 
furnished  him  with  the  means.  He  was 
obliged  to  labour  a  part  of  the  time  for  his 
own  support ;  and  to  change  from  time  to 
time  his  place  of  residence.  The  evidences 
of  his  christian  character  in  the  view  of 
those  who  had  most  opportunity  to  observe 
him,  were  continually  brightening.     He  dis- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  43 

covered  a  strong  relish  for  the  Bible  ;  was 
constant  in  reading  it;  and  seldom  would 
any  object  or  circumstances  prevent  his 
reading  daily  some  portion  of  the  Scriptures. 
Occasionally,  when  requested,  he  has  prayed 
and  spoken  in  social  religious  meetings,  and 
always  performed  these  services  to  the  ac- 
ceptance, and  it  is  believed,  to  the  edification 
of  those  present.* 

The  summer  of  1814,  Henry  spent  at  Tor- 
ringford.  "  In  the  beginning  of  summer," 
he  says,  "  my  friend  Mr.  M.,  whom  I  loved, 
returned  from  his  missionary  tour.  I  re- 
ceived him  with  joyful  salutation.  Several 
times  he  asked  me  how  my  wicked  heart  get 
along  while  I  was  hoeing  corn. — But  I  was 
still  fearful  to  tell  whether  my  heart  was 
changed  or  not. 

"  At  this  time  Mr.  M.  wished  me  to  go 
and  live  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harvey,  of  Go- 
shen. This  was  pleasing  to  me,  and  I  went 
to  live  with  Mr.  H.  and  studied  geography 
and  mathematics.  And  a  part  of  the  time 
was  trying  to  translate  a  few  verses  of  the 
Scriptures  into  my  own  language;  and  in 
making  a  kind  of  spelling-book  ;  taking  the 
English  alphabet,  and  giving  different  names 
and  different  sounds — (for  this  language  was 
not  written  language.)     I   spent  some  time 


*  "  Narrative  of  Heathen  Youth." 


44  MEMOIRS   OF 

in  making  a  kind  of  spelling-book,  dictionary, 
grammar,  &,c. 

"  While  I  was  in  this  place  with  Rev.  Mr. 
H.  I  took  more  happiness  upon  my  knees 
than  I  ever  did  before ;  having  a  good  room 
to  study,  and  being  alone  the  greatest  part 
of  the  time.  Many  happy  and  serious 
thoughts  were  coming  into  my  mind  while 
I  was  upon  my  bed  in  the  night.  Every 
thing  appeared  to  be  very  clear  to  my  own 
view.  Many  times  the  Lord  Jesus  appeared 
in  my  mind  to  be  the  most  great  grace  and 
glorious.  0  what  happy  hours  that  I  had 
in  the  night  season !  I  thought  sometimes 
before,  that  religion  was  a  hard  thing  to 
get  it — making  many  excuses  for  pray  hour, 
and  kept  putting  off  from  time  to  time,  and 
thought  it  would  become  easier  some  time 
at  hand.  But  this  kind  of  feeling  led  me  fai 
beyond  all  happiness.  Many  times  I  lived 
as  a  man  that  travels  up  to  a  hill  and  then 
down.  But  it  was  nothing  that  hindered  me 
but  my  own  wicked  heart,  and  because  I  did 
not  repent  for  my  sin. 

"  I  seeked  for  the  Lord  Jesus  for  a  long 
time,  but  found  him  not.  It  was  because  I 
did  not  seek  him  in  a  right  manner.  But 
still  I  do  think  that  I  have  found  him  upon 
my  knees.  The  Lord  was  not  in  the  wind, 
neither  in  the  earthquake,  nor  in  the  fire,  hut  in 
small  voice. 

"  About  this  time  I  thought  with  myself 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  45 

to  join  with  some  church.  I  wished  to  give 
every  thing  up  for  the  glory  of  God,  to  give 
up  my  whole  soul  to  him,  to  do  with  me  as 
he  pleaseth.  I  made  known  these  things  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  H.  and  he  thought  it  would  be 
better  for  me  to  make  a  profession  of  reli- 
gion. He  wished  me  to  go  and  see  the  Rev. 
Mr.  M.  and  the  people  whom  I  have  been 
acquainted  with,  and  talk  the  matter  over 
with  them ;  for  I  longed  to  be.  I  therefore 
Went  and  conversed  with  my  good  friend 
and  father  M.  concerning  my  case.  All  the 
matter  seemed  to  him  well.  He  wished  me 
to  come  over  on  the  next  Sabbath  and  attend 
my  examination.  I  staid  at  Goshen  until 
the  approaching  of  the  Sabbath  which  was 
appointed,  and  then  went  over  to  Torring- 
ford.  I  thought  while  I  was  travelling,  that 
I  was  going  home  to  New  Jerusalem — to  the 
welcome  gate.  As  I  walked  along  I  repeat- 
ed these  words,  '  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but 
thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  desire 
besides  thee.'  I  was  received  into  the  church 
of  Christ  in  Torringford,  on  the  ninth  day  of 
April  in  the  year  1815.  The  following  is 
the  text  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  M.  preached 
from :  '  I  will  bring"  the  blind  by  a  way  that 
they  knew  not ;  I  will  lead  them  in  paths  that 
they  have  not  known.'  " 

Previously  to  the  time  appointed  for  the 
admission  of  Obookiah  into  the  church,  he 
requested  Mr.  Mills  to  give  him  an  oppor- 


46 


MEMOIRS    OF 


tunity,  if  he  thought  it  proper,  at  the  time 
of  his  admission,  "  to  speak  a  few  words  to 
the  people."  Mr.  Mills  readily  consented — 
but  from  some  particular  circumstances,  he 
did  not  recollect,  at  the  proper  time,  Hen- 
ry's request,  and  it  was  neglected.  After 
the  public  services  were  closed,  and  Mr. 
Mills  had  retired  to  his  study,  Henry  went 
to  him  with  a  broken  heart,  and  said,  "  You 
no  let  me  speak,  sir — I  sorry."  Mr.  Mills 
was  much  affected,  but  there  was  no  reme- 
dy. But,  said  he,  "  What  did  you  wish  to 
say,  Henry?"  He  replied,  "I  want  to  ask 
the  people,  what  they  all  waiting  for  ?  they 
live  in  Gospel  land — hear  all  about  salvation 
— God  ready — Christ  ready — all  ready — 
Why  they  don't  come  to  follow  Christ?" 

Although  Henry  became  a  member  of  the 
church  at  Torringford,  he  still  continued  his 
residence  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  H.  at  Goshen. 
"  Here,"  he  says,  "  I  lived  a  little  more  than 
a  year,  and  was  treated  with  the  most  affec- 
tionate and  kindest  treatment.  I  was  now 
taken  under  the  care  of  the  board  of  com- 
missioners for  foreign  missions,  with  a  view 
to  my  future  employment  to  be  as  a  mission- 
ary to  my  poor  countrymen — who  are  yet 
living  in  region  and  shadow  of  death — with- 
out knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and  ignorant 
of  the  future  world — have  no  Bible  to  read 
— no  Sabbath — and  all  these  things  are  un- 
known to  them.     With  them  I  feel  and  ex- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH  47 

pected  to  spend  the  remainder  of  my  days  in 
the  service  of  our  glorious  Redeemer,  if  the 
Almighty  should  spare  my  life.  I  often 
feel  for  them  in  the  night  season  concerning 
the  loss  of  their  souls,  and  wish  many  times 
to  be  among  them  before  I  am  fit  to  come  to 
them — for  I  long  to  see  them.  0  that  the 
Lord  would  pluck  them  from  the  everlasting 
burning !  and  that  the  Lord  may  be  their 
God,  and  may  they  be  his  people — and  be 
made  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints 
in  light.  O  what  a  happy  time  I  have  now, 
while  my  poor  friends  and  relations  at  home 
are  perishing  with  hunger,  and  thirsty,  want- 
ing of  Divine  mercy  and  water  out  of  the 
well  of  salvation.  May  the  Lord  Jesus  dwell 
in  my  heart  and  prepare  me  to  go  and  spend 
ihe  remaining  part  of  my  life  with  them. 
But  not  my  will,  0  Lord,  but  thy  will  be  done. 
May  I  live  with  them  as  a  stranger  and  pil- 
grim upon  the  earth  as  long  as  I  live :  and 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the  service  of  the  Re- 
deemer. May  the  Lord  teach  me  to  live  in 
his  fear,  to  do  his  will  and  to  live  devoted  to 
his  service." 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  a 
letter  written  by  Obookiah  whilst  residing  at 
Goshen :  dated 

"April  24,  1815. 

11 ,  T  knew  not  what  was  my  bu- 
siness when  at  first  time  I  set  out  from  home 


48  MEMOIRS  OF 

— only  a  boy's  notion.  Because  I  have  no 
father  and  no  mother,  I  therefore  thought  of 
it,  I  must  go  and  see  the  world,  and  see 
what  I  can  find.  I  never  heard  any  thing 
about  Jesus,  and  heaven,  and  hell.  Well, 
after  I  heard  about  these  things,  I  heard 
that  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  he 
has  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners ;  the 
evil  spirit  then  coming  into  my  mind,  and 
said  that  there  was  none  neither  heaven 
nor  hell.  I  could  not  believe  it.  Some- 
times when  some  good  people  talked  with 
me  on  this  subject,  I  was  but  just  hate  to 
hear  it. 

"  I  hope  that  you  and  I  may  meet,  though 
at  present  unknown  to  each  other,  in  the 
eternal  world ;  where  many  come  from  the 
east  and  from  the  west,  and  from  the  north 
and  from  the  south,  and  sit  down  together 
in  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  But  I  do  some- 
times think  often  that  I  shall  never  see  that 
holy  and  happy  world.  I  am  very  afraid, 
because  I  was  a  great  enemy  to  God,  and 
have  fought  against  his  grace  and  his  loving- 
kindness  towards  me. 

"Oh!  my  dear  friend,  do  not  forget  to 
pray  for  me  before  our  heavenly  Father, 
when  you  are  alone.  Pray  for  me,  and  for 
my  poor  countrymen,  and  for  others,  that 
we  may  escape  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
Those  that  have  been  faithful  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  same  shall  be  saved ;  and 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  49 

those  that  have  done  evil  shall  come  to  the 
resurrection  of  damnation. 

"  There  is  no  great  consequence  wherever 
we  may  be  called,  if  we  only  keep  our  hearts 
right  before  God.  We  are  under  peculiar 
obligation  to  consecrate  ourselves  wholly  to 
the  glory  of  God.  But  we  know  that  our 
deceitful  hearts  are  apt  to  run  down,  even  as 
a  clock  or  watch  is.  A  good  clock  will  keep 
good  time  by  winding  it  up  ;  but  if  we  don't, 
it  certainly  will  run  down.  For  '  this  peo- 
ple,' said  our  Saviour,  '  draweth  nigh  unto 
me  with  their  mouth,  and  honoureth  me  with 
their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me.' 
My  wicked  heart  has  been  just  as  those 
clocks  which  run  down  very  often.  But  I 
hope  I  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  am 
willing  to  give  up  every  thing,  both  my  soul 
and  body,  for  time  and  eternity.  God  can 
do  all  this.  '  I  can  do  all  things,'  said  the 
apostle,  'through  Christ,'  &,c. 

"  My  dear  friend,  do  not  forget  to  pray  for 
William — pray  that  he  may  ever  have  joy  in 
the  holy  presence  of  God,  and  may  he  be 
made  a  good  soldier  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 
There  is  reason  to  hope  that  his  heart  will 
be  changed,  for  God  will  have  mercy  on 
whom  he  will.  I  wish  that  he  could  live 
with  me,  so  that  I  could  do  all  what  I  can 
for  him.  God,  in  his  holy  providence,  has 
brought  him  and  me  from  the  heathen  land. 
Because  of  the  weakness  of  our  faith  and  our 


50  MEMOIRS  OF 

selfishness,  the  gold  and  silver  are  tempting 
to  the  soul.  0!  can  sinners  expect  to  walk 
the  golden  streets  without  a  perfect  heart ; 
or  how  shall  we  live  with  him  without  being 
born  again. 

"  There  is  no  way  I  can  see  for  sinners 
but  to  go  to  Christ.  '  I  am  the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life.  No  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father  but  by  me,'  said  the  Saviour. 
1  At  that  day  shall  ye  know  that  I  am  in 
the  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you.' 
The  Lord  Jesus  is  all  ready  and  waiting  for 
sinners,  and  inviting  them  to  come  to  him 
immediately  without  delay. 

"  May  the  Lord  direct  you,  and  make 
you  a  faithful  labourer  in  the  Lord's  vine* 
yard." 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  lettei 
written  to  the  Rev.  E,  T.  F.,  at  New-Haven, 
dated 

"Goshen,  June  4,  1815. 
M  My  Dear  Friend, 

11 1  received  your  kind  letter  which  came 
into  my  hand  this  day  with  great  pleasure. 
You  desire  me  to  let  you  know  the  present 
state  of  my  feelings.  I  have  no  objection, 
but  I  have  not  much  to  say  on  this  subject. 
You  know  when  I  was  at  Andover,  there  I 
was  in  full  concern  about  my  soul,  and  knew 
then  that  I  was  but  a  dying  worm  of  the 
dust,  and  I  knew  I  was  poor  sinner.     And 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  51 

now  I  hope  that  the  Lord  Jesus  will  be  ray 
eternal  portion,  and  direct  me  evermore.  I 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  be  thankful  for  all 
the  privileges  and  blessings  which  I  enjoy. 
I  know  that  God  will  have  mercy  on  whom 
he  will — and  with  such  promise,  our  souls 
must  rest  in  God. 

"Omy  dear  friend,  do  not  cease  to  pray 
for  me,  and  for  Tennooe,  and  for  the  poor 
ignorant  people  at  Owhyhee  :  and  pray  for 
the  poor  people  in  this  country  as  well  as 
the  heathen,  for  their  hearts  are  not  with 
God,  and  their  ears  are  much  deafer  than  that 
of  the  heathen — when  they  hear  the  word 
of  God  on  every  Sabbath,  and  can  read  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  0  may  the  Lord  bless  us 
all  with  an  increase  of* his  grace.  I  hope 
you  will  never  forget  to  write  to  me  when 
you  can,  and  tell  me  what  religious  expe- 
rience you  know  I  am  ignorant  of. 

"  I  want  to  see  you  about  our  Grammar  ;* 
I  want  to  get  through  with  it.  I  have  been 
translating  a  few  chapters  of  the  Bible  into 
the  Owhyhee  language.  I  found  I  could  do 
it  very  correctly. 

"  I  hope  that  the  great  God  will  be  gra- 
cious to  you,  and  make  you  a  faithful  minis- 
ter of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  '  Walk  by 
faith,  and  not  by  sight.'  " 


*  An  Owhyhean  Grammar  which  he  was  employed  in 
making  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  F. 


52  MEMOIRS  OF 

Extracts  from  a  letter  to  Mr.  S.  B.  I.,  a 
member  of  Yale  College. 

"Goshen,  June  9,  1815. 
"  My  Dear  Friend, 

11 1  improve  this  opportunity  to  write  to  you 
a  few  lines.  When  you  was  up  here  last  you 
know  that  I  was  quite  unwell  then.  On  that 
account  I  could  not  talk  much  with  you  when 
you  was  speaking  on  the  religious  subjects. 

"O  my  friend,  what  is  our  rule?  Is  not 
the  word  of  God,  which  is  contained  in  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament : 
Certainly  it  is.  But  we  are  apt  to  hate  to 
put  away  sins,  for  they  are  sweeter  than  the 
grace  of  God. 

"  0  my  dear  friend,  let  us  continue  in  the 
hope  of  the  glory  of  our  Redeemer,  with 
true  hearts,  in  full  assurance  of  faith.  Cea^e 
not  to  pray  for  the  fatherless  as  I  am.  0 
what  a  wonderful  thing  it  is  that  the  hai  d 
of  the  Divine  Providence  has  brought  me 
here,  from  that  heathenish  darkness  where 
the  light  of  divine  truth  never  had  been. 
And  here  have  I  found  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  have  read 
that  his  blood  was  shed  for  many.  And  I 
remember  his  own  words  which  he  said 
1  Father  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what 
they  do  ?' 

"  Do  not  forget  to  mention  me  and  Ten- 
nooe  before  our  heavenly  Father  when  you 


HENRY  0B00K1AH.  53 

are  alone  by  yourself,  that  we  may  not  enter 
into  temptation,  and  that  our  souls  may  have 
rest  in  God.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  be- 
fore long.  When  you  write  to  me,  if  agree- 
able to  you,  I  wish  you  to  give  me  some  in- 
formation of  religious  experience,  &c.  and 
how  a  Christian  feels,  &c.  &,c.  I  hope  that 
the  Lord  will  be  with  you ;  and  may  your 
journey  through  this  vale  of  tears  be  sweet- 
ened by  the  precious  religion  of  the  blessed 
Saviour.  May  He  who  is  rich  in  mercy, 
and  abundant  in  grace  and  goodness,  bless  you 
with  an  increase  of  his  mercy,  and  make  you 
a  faithful  soldier  of  the  cross  of  Christ." 

In  another  letter  to  one  of  his  countrymen 
residing  at  Boston,  he  says, 

"  I  doubt  not  that  you  have  seen  some 
people  in  this  country,  as  much  as  10,  20, 
30,  40,  50,  and  60  years  of  age,  still  neglect- 
ing religion  from  year  to  year ;  and  adding 
sin  to  sin  as  long  as  they  live.  This  will  not 
do :  for  God  hath  said,  '  My  Spirit  shall 
not  always  strive  with  man.'  But,  alas, 
sin  is  a  lovely  friend  to  a  sinner.  He  will 
not  get  away  from  his  sins  for  a  thousand 
worlds.  '  O,'  sinner,  c  taste  and  see  that  the 
Lord  is  good? 

"  Do  write  me  a  long  letter  without  delay, 
and  tell  me  how  did  God  appear  to  you  at  first, 
and  tell  me  what  is  your  first  object  if  you 
should  return  home,"  &,c. 
e2 


54  MEMOIRS   OF 

The  letter  which  follows  was  taken  from 
the  "  Vermont  Adviser,"  and  was  written  to 
a  young  gentleman  in  Middlebury.  To  what 
extent  the  language  was  altered  before  it  was 
inserted  in  the  "  Adviser,"  is  unknown. 

«  Goshen,  Sept.  25,  1814. 
"  Dear  Friend, 

"  It  is  long  since  I  saw  you  when  you  had 
kept  Mr.  B.'s  store  at  Torringford :  you  are 
by  no  means  forgotten.  I  conclude  that  you 
are  probably  in  the  best  place.  I  am  con- 
tented. Undoubtedly  your  present  situation 
affords  the  best  opportunity  to  pursue  your 
studies ;  and  is  hoped  that  you  have  also 
good  religious  instructions  and  cautions.  I 
hope  you  remember  that  the  true  friends  of 
God  may  have  pleasure  wherever  they  are, 
if  they  make  it  their  chief  concern  to  glorify, 
love,  and  please  him :  but  those  who  do  not, 
have  no  right  to  expect  pleasure  any  where. 
In  whatever  place  we  are,  we  have  much 
that  we  can  and  ought  to  do  for  God.  Our 
first  care  should  be  to  keep  our  own  thoughts 
right.  We  should  think  much  on  that  great 
and  holy  Being,  that  formed  us ;  on  his  ho- 
liness and  abhorrence  of  every  sin  ;  on  our 
constant  dependence  upon  him  ;  how  many 
blessings  he  is  conferring  upon  us,  and  how 
little  we  deserve  them,  and  how  undone  and 
unthankful  we  are  for  them  ;  or  our  deserv- 
ing evil  instead  of  good  ;   and  how  abomina- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  55 

ble  we  are  in  his  sight,  whenever  we  do  evil. 
We  should  think  often  on  death  and  our  ap- 
pearing before  the  eternal  Saviour  in  judg- 
ment. We  ought  not  only  to  read  the  Bible 
often,  but  to  pray  often  that  we  may  know 
of  the  salvation,  and  understand  and  be  as- 
sisted to  live  according  to  it ;  and  this  would 
aid  us  very  much  in  keeping  our  thoughts. 
If  we  exercise  sufficient  care  over  our 
thoughts,  our  outward  conduct  also  will  be 
good.  But  if  we  employ  our  minds,  one 
moment,  on  foolish  or  useless  things,  we 
shall  not  only  offend  God  by  that,  but  we 
shall  be  liable  to  fall  into  outward  sins,  and 
so  endanger  our  own  souls,  and  encourage 
other  in  the  same  evil ;  and  their  wickedness 
will  encourage  other,  and  so  on.  We  can- 
not conceive  the  dreadful  consequences  of 
one  sin,  and  we  are  very  apt  to  forget  how 
prone  we  are  to  fall  into  sin.  We  are  very 
apt  likewise  to  satisfy  ourselves  with  what 
we  intend  to  do  hereafter,  and  to  forget  our 
present  duty.  The  truth  is,  all  our  time  is 
made  up  of  present  lime,  and  all  we  need  to 
care  is,  that  we  may  all  the  time  do  the  best 
we  can  for  our  great  Creator,  this  present 
minute.  All  that  we  can  possibly  do  is  but 
a  little ;  for  all  we  have  and  all  we  are  is 
God's,  and  we  can  never  atone  for  one  of 
all  our  sins,  but  we  must  trust  altogether  in 
the  merits  of  Christ.  But  now  my  dear 
friend  I  hope  you  will  strive  to  improve  all 


56  MEMOIRS  OF 

your  time  well ;  and  that  may  the  God  will 
be  gracious  to  you  ;  and  make  you  faithful 
and  useful  as  long  as  you  live  here  in  the 
world. 

"  I  wish  you  would  write  to  me  as  soon 
as  you  can,  when  you  can.  I  concluded  to 
be  here  with  Mr.  Harvey  this  winter ;  and 
whenever  you  come  this  way,  I  should  be 
glad  to  see  you  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey, 
they  are  very  agreeable  and  kind,  I  was  very 
much  pleased  with  them.  I  saw  your  father 
at  Torringford  some  time  ago  ;  he  wished 
me  to  write  to  you  when  I  could,  I  told  him 
I  would. 

"  One  thing  I  must  mention  to  you,  that 
is,  we  must  always  continue  in  our  prayers 
before  our  heavenly  Father,  that  we  may  all 
become  followers  of  those,  who  through 
faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises.  But 
now  I  must  close  this  subject. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"Henry  Obookiah." 

In  October,  1815,  Obookiah  left  Goshen, 
and  went  to  reside  in  the  family  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Prentice  of  Canaan.  At  this  period  the 
history  of  his  past  life  terminates.  He  com- 
menced writing  it  soon  after  he  removed  to 
Canaan,  at  the  request  of  his  instructor,  as 
a  daily  exercise.  It  was  completed  in  the 
beginning  of  the  succeeding  year.  In  March 
he  commences  a  Diary  ;  which  he  continued 


HENRY  0B00KIAH.  57 

till  the  close  of  the  summer :  when  he  chang- 
ed again  his  place  of  residence,  went  to 
South  Farms,  and  soon  afterward  to  Am- 
herst in  Massachusetts.  From  this  time  the 
nature  of  his  employment  was  such  that  the 
Diary  was  either  suspended,  or  continued 
only  at  intervals,  and  not  preserved. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the 
Diary. 

March  5,  1816. — This  evening  I  attended 
a  conference  at  the  house  of  Dea.  B.  It  was 
a  very  solemn  time.  Many  appeared  to  be 
very  serious  and  attentive ;  though  I  was  in 
fear  it  was  not  so  in  the  heart.  Rev.  Mr. 
P.  made  some  observations  from  these 
words,  "  Why  sit  we  here  until  we  die  ?" 
By  hearing  these  words  my  mind  was  much 
concerned,  and  I  felt  as  though  I  was  still 
enough  in  my  own  sin.  "  What  shall  I  do  ?" 
said  I  to  myself.  The  answer  was,  work 
faithfully  with  your  own  heart.  With  these 
thoughts  coming  into  my  mind,  I  found 
peace  and  joy.  0  that  I  might  understand 
the  work  of  my  own  heart. 

6th. — I  have  just  now  been  thinking  of 
the  prophet  Elijah:  how  he  prayed  to  his 
God,  when  he  went  up  to  the  top  of  the 
Mount  Carmel,  and  how  he  put  his  face  be- 
tween his  knees  and  prayed  to  the  God  of 
Heaven.  0,  how  much  better  it  is  to  spend 
time  now  in  such  a  way  of  praying,  than  to 


58  MEMOIRS  OF 

wait  until  the  time  of  prayer  may  be  over. 
What  should  hinder  the  heart  from  being 
busy  in  prayer  to  God  secretly,  while  their 
hands  are  full  of  any  business  whatever  ? 

$th. — This  day  is  very  dark.  My  mind 
has  been  quite  down  by  reason  of  my  bar- 
renness. But  Christ  has  appeared  as  "  chief- 
est  among  ten  thousand,  and  altogether 
lovely."  In  Christ  have  I  found  the  light  of 
comfort  and  joy.  Whatever  joy  and  comfort 
I  receive  from  God,  my  heart  is  bound  up 
with  thanks  ;  but  at  the  other  time  I  become 
forgetful;  as  if  I  was  carrying  away  by  my 
own  sin,  as  far  as  where  it  was  not  to  be  re- 
membered what  God  had  done  for  my  soul. 

9lh. — I  have  had  this  morning  a  solemn 
visit  from  two  young  gentlemen,  (unknown 
before,)  who  were  of  the  most  pious  and 
amiable  characters.  Their  conversations 
were  sweet  to  my  soul.  They  continued 
with  me  in  my  room  during  the  space  of 
two  hours,  then  we  prayed  together. — Soon 
they  bid  me  farewell  and  went.  I  then  re- 
turned into  my  retirement  and  offered  up 
thanks  to  God  for  such  serious  and  solemn 
conversation.  I  prayed  with  a  free  and 
thankful  heart.  0  !  what  a  glorious  time  it 
was!  I  never  prayed  to  God  with  so  full 
view  of  God's  goodness  as  I  did  then.  It 
seemed  as  if  God  was  teaching  my  wicked 
heart  how  to  pray.  I  felt  so  easy  that  I  could 
not  help  crying,   Lord,  Lord,   increase   my 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  59 

faith.  I  continued  thus  for  several  days,  then 
that  dark  hour  came  on ;  though  not  very 
dark,  for  I  had  a  little  spark  of  light — and 
that  spark  of  light  was  given  for  an  answer  to 
such  secret  prayer  as  I  offered  up  to  God  in 
ray  heart.  0  !  that  I  might  continually  watch 
in  my  heart  that  I  might  not  enter  into  temp- 
tation and  snare  of  the  Devil. 

10th. — To-day  I  rejoiced  greatly  to  hear 
many  glorious  news  from  almost  every  quar- 
ter and  town  in  the  state,  that  many  sinners 
were  brought  to  bow  to  Jesus,  and  many  were 
inquiring  for  what  they  should  do  to  be 
saved. 

19th. — I  attended  this  evening  a  very  so- 
lemn meeting  as  ever  I  attended.  A  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  H.  from  these 
words  :  "  The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken 
spirit,"  &c.  Many  appeared  with  a  thought- 
ful and  serious  look.  But  0  !  may  they  not 
be  as  those  hearers  who  hear  the  words,  and 
after  all  hide  them  from  their  hearts,  as  I  do 
fear  there  are  many. 

No  doubt  but  many  young  people  attend 
frequently  such  meetings,  for  the  purpose 
of  seeing  others:  their  looks,  dress,  &c. — 
by  these  their  minds  are  drawn  away.  0  ! 
how  many  thoughtless  and  careless  are  there 
in  the  world  !  Sinners, 

"You  live  devoid  of  peace, 
A  thousand  stings  within  your  breast, 
Deprive  }'our  souls  of  ease." 


60  MEMOIRS  OF 

23d. — This  morning  my  friend  Thomas 
come  to  me  with  a  sad  countenance,  and 
wished  that  we  might  pray  together  in  our 
own  language.  I  told  him  that  I  had  no 
objection — that  I  would  willingly  do  it. — 
We  then  prayed  to  that  Almighty  God  who 
was  able  to  help  us ;  and  I  believe  that  our 
prayers  were  graciously  answered.  We  of- 
fered up  two  prayers  in  our  tongue — the  first 
time  that  we  ever  prayed  in  this  manner. 
And  the  Lord  was  with  us. 

April  1st. — This  evening  my  friend  Tho- 
mas and  myself  conversed  about  what  we 
would  do  first  at  our  return  to  our  own 
country  ;  and  how  we  should  begin  to  teach 
our  poor  brethren  about  the  religion  of  J.e- 
sus  Christ,  &c.  and  many  other  kinds  of 
conversation  that  we  thought  of.  And  we 
both  thought  that  we  must  first  go  to  the 
king ;  or  else  we  must  keep  a  school  to  edu- 
cate the  children,  and  get  them  to  have  some 
knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  then  we 
must  give  to  them  some  idea  of  God.  But 
these  thoughts  seemed  to  be  blind  on  some 
accounts — not  knowing  how  to  do  better 
without  God's  direction.  The  most  thought 
that  come  to  my  mind,  was  to  leave  all  in 
the  hands  of  the  Almighty  God  as  he  seeth 
fit.  The  means  m?iv  easily  be  done  by  us, 
and  all  other  duties  which  God  commands, 
but  to  make  all  others  believe  in  the  reality 
of  religion,  no  one  could  do  it,  to  open  blind 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  61 

eyes  of  sinners,  but  God  only.  He  is  able 
"  to  bring  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  know 
not,  and  he  will  lead  them  in  paths  which 
they  have  not  known." 

2c/. — As  I  was  just  rising  up  this  morning 
and  looked  out  of  my  bed  room's  window, 
I  saw  the  sun  rising  in  the  east,  (Sabbath) 
and  I  wondered  that  my  life  should  be  kept 
so  safely  during  the  night  past,  and  that  I 
was  brought  to  see  another  day  of  the  Son 
of  man.  A  soon  as  I  went  to  bed  my  eyes 
were  wide  open  during  the  whole  night.  I 
thought  how  many  unready  lives  were  taken 
before  the  morning  comes.  This  made  my 
heart  cry.  Lord,  prepare  me,  prepare  me 
for  death.  I  spent  the  greater  part  of  the 
night  in  secret  prayers  in  my  bed,  and  found 
sweet  communion  with  my  God.  "  Commune 
with  your  own  heart  upon  your  bed  and  be 
still."  0  that  the  grace  of  God  may  be  suffi- 
cient for  me  !  Lord,  fill  my  hungry  soul  with 
spiritual  food. 

3d. — This  day  I  set  apart  for  secret  pray- 
er, and  the  Lord  was  graciously  with  me, 
and  has  given  me  some  spirit  to  pray.  It 
seemed  as  if  I  could  not  enjoy  myself  better 
in  any  worldly  conversations  than  I  did  in 
prayer.  I  can  say  as  I  trust,  that  the  spirit 
of  God  has  been  with  me  this  day.  God 
appears  to  be  gracious  and  lovely.  Holy 
thou  art,  0  Lord  God  of  Hosts  !  0  Lord  ! 
look  down  with  a  pitying  eye  upon  this  thy 

F 


62  MEMOIRS  OF 

servant,  whom  thou  hast  brought  from  a  hea- 
then land !  Be  gracious  to  all  the  rest  of  my 
heathen  brethren  who  are  now  in  this  country. 
Do  now,  0  Lord,  hear  my  call.  Let  not  the 
Lord  remember  former  sins  which  were 
known  to  thee. 

7th. — This  afternoon  I  attended  the  fune- 
ral of  an  aged  person.  Many  people  attend- 
ed, and  many  tears  were  shed  upon  almost 
every  cheek  for  the  loss  of  their  friend.     But 

0  weepers,  weep  for  yourselves,  (he  was  a 
friend  of  Christ  it  is  hoped)  for  he  has  gone 
in  peace. 

I  thought  with  great  astonishment  how 
little  idea  we  have  of  death  and  eternity. 
Who  can  stop  the  approaching  of  death  ? 
May  the  Lord  teach  me  to  know  the  number 
of  my  days !  Oh  !  that  the  everlasting  arm 
may  raise  my  soul  from  deepest  hell ;  and 
direct  my  step  toward  the  peaceful  shore  of 
blessed  eternity ! 

9th. — To-day  is  my  first  year  since  I  made 
a  profession  of  religion.  I  set  apart  this 
day  for  prayer,  and  returned  thanks  to  God 
for  his  wonderful  grace  and  kindness  towards 
me  as  a  lost  sinner.     Though  how  little  have 

1  done  towards  him  !  how  little  have  I  done 
for  his  glory  !  Shall  I  live  to  see  the  end  of 
another  year  ?  Lord,  increase  my  faith. 

l%th. — To-day  the  Lord  turned  me  to  look 
into  my  heart,  to  see  whether  there  be  any 
holiness  in  me.     But  I   found  nothing  but 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  bS 

"  wounds  and  bruises  and  putrefying  sores." 
I  saw  my  sins  were  very  great,  and  never 
were  known  before.  I  had  seen  my  own  sin 
before,  but  the  Lord  never  show  me  so  much 
as  I  recollect,  to  make  the  soul  sink  in  deep 
sorrow  for  sin,  as  he  did  this  day.  But  it 
was  my  own  blindness  too.  When  I  con- 
sidered my  former  life,  and  looked  into  it, 
nothing  but  a  heavy  bundle  of  sin  was  upon 
me.  I  pray  the  Lord  that  he  may  not  re- 
member my  past  sin.  0  may  not  the  God 
of  Isaac  and  Jacob  hide  from  the  tears  of 
such  dying  sinner  as  I. 

I  enjoyed  myself  much  this  day  in  fasting, 
and  prayer,  and  supplication. 

— .  "  I  have  been  thinking  this  day  to 
know  what  is  the  state  of  man ;  whether 
they  are  pure  from  all  sin : — for  last  evening 
I  had  a  dispute  with  a  young  man. — He  ask- 
ed me  whether  I  do  believe  that  we  sin  by 
words,  thoughts  and  deeds.  I  answered  him 
Yes.  Certainly  we  do,  unless  we  take  heed 
to  our  ways — as  David  speaks  for  himself  in 
Ps.  39.  "  0  mortal  man,"  says  he,  "  do  we 
then  always  sin?"  Yes,  I  answered.  The 
Apostle  speaks,  "  If  we  say  we  have  no  sin 
we  deceive  ourselves." 

0  how  many  ways  that  a  creature  can  be 
deceived ! 

15th. — I  attended  a  prayer  meeting  this 
afternoon,  and  a  number  have  been  examined 
to   be   brought   forward  to  the  Church.     I 


64  MEMOIRS  OF 

have  thought  a  great  deal  this  day  about  my 
unfaithfulness  and  barrenness  since  I  made  a 
profession  of  religion  : — how  my  wicked 
heart  has  turned  away  from  God  in  a  most 
evil  and  unkind  manner.  But  when  I  con- 
sider that  I  sin  against  my  Maker,  I  always 
feel  sorry  ;  and  all  sins  which  I  commit  raise 
my  tears  from  my  eyes :  as  I  have  this  af- 
ternoon been  weeping  very  deeply  because 
of  my  sins.  Many  times  I  am  apt  to  fall 
into  sin ;  but  if  God  hears  my  crying  for 
forgiveness,  I  shall  still  live  devoted  to  him. 
Is  there  any  thing  that  we  can  be  cleansed 
by  from  our  sins  but  the  blood  of  the  Lamb 
of  God  ?     No,  in  no  wise. 

'Hist. — O  what  a  solemn  meeting  to-day  at 
the  house  of  Dea.  B.  It  was  a  serious  and 
joyful  time.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the  Lord 
was  with  us.  I  took  notice  that  almost 
every  person  in  the  room  appeared  very  joy- 
ful. Many  persons  kept  their  heads  down- 
wards with  tears  on  their  faces.  We  had 
then  neither  sermon  nor  any  discourse  de- 
livered, but  many  prayers  were  offered  up 
for  those  who  were  rolling  sin  as  a  sweet 
morsel  under  their  tongue.  A  number  of 
pious  men  tried  to  speak,  but  they  could  not 
For  the  fear  of  the  Lord  had  fell  upon  them, 
that  they  could  not  finish  their  discourse, 
but  to  weep.  0  how  myself  felt  then.  I 
saw  that  it  was  the  Lord's  work,  who  hath 
power  to  make  sinners  feel,  and   to  show 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  65 

himself  that  he  is  God  alone.  0  that  the 
Lord  may  carry  on  his  work  ! 

May  5. — This  day  I  have  attended  the  sa- 
crament of  the  Lord's  supper.  I  felt  guilty 
of  my  unfruitfulness,  and  had  but  little  faith 
in  him  whose  blood  is  drink  indeed  and 
whose  flesh  is  meat  indeed.  I  could  not  help 
weeping  whilst  the  minister  addressed  those 
who  were  to  be  admitted  into  the  Church — 
warning  them  to  be  faithful.  On  account  of 
this  warning  I  could  not  put  a  stop  to  my 
weeping  eye. — For  I  felt  that  I  had  had  a 
stupid  and  cold  heart,  wanting  of  divine 
grace. 

Sth. — I  have  been  reading  this  morning 
the  history  of  pious  women,  and  I  was  very 
much  pleased  to  see  and  to  know  how 
Christians  feel.  Their  employment  every 
day  was  to  address  their  heavenly  Father  in 
secret,  and  to  read  some  portion  of  the  holy 
Scriptures. 

16th. — This  day  I  took  a  walk  for  exer- 
cise at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  miles. 
On  my  way  home  I  met  an  aged  man,  un- 
known before,  who  I  judge  to  be  about  sixty 
years  of  age.  He  was  travelling  on  the  same 
way  that  I  was,  and  I  thought  in  myself 
that  I  would  take  this  opportunity  to  con- 
verse with  him  upon  religious  subjects:  as 
it  was  my  duty,  (and  as  I  have  done  with 
many  other  unacquainted  .persons  before.) 
As  we  were  walking,  "  What  bad  going  is 
f  2 


66  MEMOIRS  OF 

this!"  said  he,  "I  have  never  known  such 
time  as  this."  With  this  observation  I  spoke 
thus — Ought  we  not  to  be  thankful  to  our 
Maker  for  such  a  season  as  this,  as  well  as 
we  do  for  the  finest  weather?  C{0  yes,  Sir, 
I  think  we  ought  to,"  says  he,  "though  I 
do  not  feel  thankful  as  I  ought."  With  this 
saying,  I  then  asked  him  to  know  whether 
he  was  one  that  was  born  again  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  To  which  he  replied,  "0  1  hope 
so  ;  though  I  was  one  of  the  sheep  that  was 
almost  gone,  for  ever  lost,  yet  I  hope  that  I 
am  found."  I  asked  him  whether  he  ever 
met  with  any  difficulty  or  trouble  in  his 
mind.  He  answered,  "0  yes,  great  deal;  but 
when  I  meet  with  any  trouble,  I  wish  to  be 
alone,  and  pray  to  God,  and  ask  him  for 
such  comfort  as  I  need.  Before  I  was 
brought  into  light  I  thought  many  times 
that  the  religion  of  Jesus,  was  hard  thing  to 
seek  for — but  it  was  nothing  else  but  my  own 
wicked  heart.  When  I  came  to  it  in  my 
own  heart,  I  found  no  holiness  at  all,  but  all 
manner  of  evils,  are  lodged  in  it." 

Soon  we  parted  from  each  other,  and 
we  both  wished  to  be  remembered  in  our 
prayers. 

June  1. — This  morning  I  have  been  walk- 
ing out  for  some  secret  duty.  As  I  walked 
through  the  field  alone,  lo !  I  heard  the 
sweet  songs  of  many  birds,  singing  among 
the   branches ;    for  it  was  a  beautiful  Sab- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  67 

bath  morning.  While  I  thus  hearked,  this 
part  of  a  Psalm  came  into  my  soul  very 
sweetly — 

"  Sweet  is  the  mem'ry  of  thy  grace, 

My  God,  my  heavenly  King, 
Let  age  to  age  thy  righteousness, 

In  sounds  of  glory  sing,"  &c. 

I  thought  of  Christians  as  soon  as  I  heard 
these  birds  tuning  their  joyful  song3  around 
the  tree.  Christians  as  soon  as  they  leave 
their  fleshly  songs,  with  their  bodies,  in  the 
silent  tomb,  will  be  at  rest  beyond  all  pain, 
death,  sorrow  and  trouble ;  and  come  around 
their  King  of  glory,  and  tune  their  golden 
harps  to  Immanuel's  praise.  And  then  say 
one  to  another, 


"  Come  let  our  voices  join  to  raise, 
A  sacred  song  of  solemn  praise,"  &c. 

16th. — This  evening  I  attended  some  se- 
rious exercises  of  prayer  with  a  few  young 
men  of  pious  character.  Five  pious  young 
men  came  to  our  room  for  this  purpose. 
They  appeared  to  be  very  much  engaged  in 
the  cause  of  the  great  Redeemer.  We  spent 
our  time  in  solemn  prayer  for  two  or  three 
hours.  I  found  comfort  myself  easy  in  every 
duty  which  I  was  commanded  by  my  God 
to  do. 


DO  MEMOIRS  OF 

23c?. — I  was  visited  this  morning  by  a 
pious  and  good  Rev.  Mr.  H.  of  L.  who  in- 
structed me  in  a  most  affectionate  and  tender 
manner;  and  has  given  me  some  of  the 
clearest  views  of  Christian  character,  such 
as  I  needed. 

I  was  intreated  by  this  friend  of  Christ 
concerning  my  future  happiness,  and  was 
warned  to  live  above  this  world  with  hum- 
ble and  tender  heart.  But  O !  who  can 
know  my  own  unfruitfulness  and  vileness, 
but  He  who  "searcheth  the  heart  and  tri- 
eth  the  reins  of  the  children  of  men."  I 
felt  in  my  own  heart  that  I  needed  the  teach- 
ing of  all  the  people  of  God.  Many  times 
I  have  thought  of  myself  being  deceived, 
because  many  evil  thoughts  came  into  my 
mind  and  put  me  out  of  the  right  way ;  but 
in  my  secret  prayers  I  have  always  found 
happy  rest  to  my  poor  and  immortal  soul,  as 
if  I  was  in  the  right  path.  O  that  the  Lord 
Jesus,  who  doth  "  bring  the  blind  by  a  way 
that  they  know  not"  may  be  the  director  of 
such  blind  as  I. 

%4th. — We  have  heard  to-day  much  good 
news  from  every  quarter  of  the  country.  A 
work  of  grace  has  been  begun  in  many 
places,  and  there  are  hundreds  of  hopeful 
converts,  or  newly  born  by  the  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  0  how  great  and  how  won- 
derful is  the  arm  of  the  Lord !  reaching 
forth  his  hand  toward    sinners,  and   kindly 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  D» 

taking  them  in  his  bosom  of  love.     But  are 
there  not  many  sinners  yet  in  the  ^all  of  bit- 
terness  and  in  bonds  of  iniquity,  rejecting 
the  free  offer  of  salvation  ?     Are  not  many 
opposers  yet   set   against   the   truth   of  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  ?    0  when  shall  these 
never-dying    souls    find    rest!     It    is    very 
strange  to  me  that  so  many  careless  and  stu- 
pid sinners  never  think  or  have  any  concern 
for  the  worth  of  their   immortal    souls.     0 
Lord,  I  intreat  thee  to  look  down  with  com- 
passion upon  such  dying  sinners  as  are  here 
in  this  land  of  the   Gospel  light!     0  save 
them,    O    Lord    God  of  Hosts,  save  them! 
Glorify  the  riches  of  thy  free  grace  in  mak- 
ing them  the  heirs  of  thy  holy  kingdom.     0 
glorious  Jesus,  thou  son  of  the  Most  High, 
have  mercy  on  the  never-dying  souls  of  men. 
Thou  canst  do  the  helpless  sinner  good  ;  for 
all  homage,  honour,  glory,   and  worship  are 
due  to  thee ;  the  true  promised  Messiah  and 
Redeemer  of  the  world.     Thou  canst  work 
among  sinners,  and    none  can   hinder  thee. 
O  Lord  save  us  or  we  perish.     I  am  a  sin- 
ner as  well  as  other ;  I  feel  myself  an  un- 
fruitful creature  :  and  yet  I  choose  the  Lord 
Jesus  for  my   everlasting    portion.     I   have 
nothing  of  my  own  to  recommend  myself  to 
his  holy  favour.     All  the  present  that  I  can 
make  unto  Jesus  is  myself.     He  seeks  not 
mine,  but  me  onty. 

%5th. — Last  evening  I  attended  a  prayer 


70  MEMOIRS  OF 

meeting,  and  enjoyed  great  comfort  to  my 
soul.  I  thought  how  Christians  all  agree  in 
their  feelings  toward  each  other,  in  lovely 
manner.  I  once  thought  while  we  were  in 
the  room,  in  such  a  little  circle,  and  enjoyed 
ourselves  in  conversing  after  the  manner  of 
the  flesh,  how  much  happiness  will  be  found 
at  the  great  court  of  the  Almighty,  when  all 
the  children  of  God  are  gathered  together, 
from  the  east  and  the  west,  and  are  set  down 
in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven.  What  a  happy 
time  will  it  be  for  Christians ! 

July  Sd. — My  health  being  weak,  I  set  out 
to  walk,  and  at  the  place  to  which  I  came, 
I  found  a  sick  woman  lying  upon  a  sick  bed. 
She  had  been  in  that  case  for  eight  years. 
When  she  heard  of  my  being  in  the  house 
she  wished  to  see  me.  I  conversed  with  her 
concerning  her  case ;  and  though  she  was 
weak  in  her  body  and  mind  she  could  answer 
whatever  question  I  put  to  her.  I  asked  her 
whether  she  was  willing  to  leave  this  world 
of  sin,  and  to  be  present  with  her  lovely  Je- 
sus. She  replied  "0  yes,  O  yes,  I  hope  I 
shall  reach  that  peaceful  shore  where  I  shall 
have  neither  sickness  nor  pain,  as  I  have 
now."  Before  I  was  about  to  leave  her,  she 
wished  me  to  pray  with  her,  and  this  was 
done.  She  took  hold  of  my  hand  and  begged 
me  to  remember  her,  thus — "  O  my  friend, 
do  not  forget  me  in  your  prayers,  and  if  I  do 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  71 

not  see  you  again  in  this  life,  I  shall  in  better 
life  than  this." 

17th. — I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to 
my  friends.  As  I  was  walking  through  the 
woods  I  came  to  a  house  which  stood  at 
some  distance  from  the  town.  As  soon  as 
I  was  come  near  the  house,  I  found  an  old 
gray-headed  man,  next  to  the  road  hoeing 
corn.  I  saw  he  was  very  aged  man,  and 
I  thought  it  was  my  duty  to  converse  with 
him.  I  stood  by  the  fence  and  asked  him 
how  he  did.  He  answered,  "  Well."  I 
asked  him  whether  he  was  well  within  also. 
But  he  did  not  understand  what  I  mean. 
(This  old  man  was  about  ninety  years  of 
age,  and  had  been  living  without  hope  and 
without  God  in  the  world.)  Immediately  1 
went  to  the  old  man,  and  spoke  to  him  in  3 
friendly  manner,  thus — -My  friend,  said  I  tc 
him,  you  are  a  stranger  to  me,  and  I  unto 
you ;  and  I  see  that  your  head  is  full  of  gray 
hairs,  and  no  doubt  your  days  will  soon  be 
over.  "  I  know  that,"  said  the  aged  man, 
"so  every  one  has  got  to  be  as  I  am." 
Well,  said  I,  what  do  you  think  of  the  great 
day  of  judgment?  are  you  ready  for  that 
day?  "  0,  I  don't  know,"  said  he,  "I  do 
sometimes  think  that  I  am  too  far  off  for 
that  day."  Why  do  you  not  now  begin  to 
make  your  peace  with  God,  before  deatli 
overtake  you  ?  said  I  to  the  old  man ;  repent 
and  believe  in  the  Son  of  God.     But  the  old 


72  MEMOIRS   OF 

man  seemed  to  be  very  careless  and  stupid 
I  talked  to  him  but  he  kept  hoeing  his  corn  ; 
and  I  followed  him  to  the  end  of  the  field, 
pursuing  my  discourse.  But  he  seemed  to 
be  unwilling  to  hear  me  any  farther,  and  I 
returned  thanks  to  the  Almighty  God  for  the 
opportunity  which  I  had  with  this  poor  old 
man,  and  bid  him  farewell. 

Sabbath  afternoon,  August  5th. — To-day  I 
felt  more  anxious  for  prayer  than  I  ever  did 
After  I  returned  from  meeting,  I  entered  in 
my  retirement,  where  I  always  find  comfort 
and  joy  in  my  secret  prayer  and  supplica- 
tions before  the  great  Jehovah.  I  now  wish- 
ed to  see  my  friend  Thomas,  who  lived  a 
little  apart  from  me,  and  I  set  ont  to  meet 
together  in  prayer  for  our  own  good.  I  went 
and  found  him  reading  the  Bible.  I  urged 
him  to  go  up  to  his  room  with  me  and  be 
there  a  little  while ;  and  we  took  a  Bible  and 
went  up.  We  spent  some  time  together  in 
prayer  till  the  sun  was  down.  "O  how 
good  and  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell 
together  in  unity."  We  both  united  in 
prayers,  two  of  each.  We  cried  to  God  for 
help  in  the  language  of  good  old  David, 
"Search  us,  0  God,  and  know  our  hearts, 
and  try  us  and  know  our  thoughts,  and  see 
if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  us,  and  lead 
us  in  the  way  everlasting."  May  the  Lord 
be  pleased  to  lead  us  both  in  the  right  way, 
and  not  in  the  "way  which  seemeth  right 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  73 

unto  a  man,  but  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways 
of  death."  We  cried  to  God  farther,  that 
he  would  teach  us  his  way,  in  order  to  walk 
in  his  truth  ;  and  to  unite  our  hearts  both  to 
fear  his  holy  name. 

I  told  my  friend  Thomas  how  I  felt  that 
day,  and  how  much  I  longed  to  be  with  him 
together  in  prayer  for  our  poor  countrymen, 
as  well  as  for  ourselves.  We  both  wished 
to  have  our  little  meeting  kept  up  until  we 
should  be  separated  far  from  each  other. 
We  wished  to  have  no  one  know  it,  but  to 
look  to  God  whenever  we  both  come  to- 
gether. 

The  Diary  of  Obookiah  may  not  have 
been  discontinued  here.  A  considerable  part 
of  what  has  been  transcribed  was  found 
upon  detached  pieces  of  paper;  and  other 
similar  pieces  may  have  been  mislaid.  The 
whole  he  had  begun  to  copy,  but  had  not 
completed  it. 

The  following  is  a  selection  of  passages  of 
Scripture  made  by  Obookiah  while  he  lived 
at  Canaan,  the  first  letters  of  which  spell 
his  name.  It  is  a  specimen  of  his  ingenuity 
as  well  as  his  acquaintance  with  the  Scrip- 
tures. 
"Ho!  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to 

the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money  ; 

come,  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money 

and  without  price." — Isa.  lv. 


<4  MEMOIRS  OF 

''  Except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see 

the  kingdom  of  God. " — John  iii. 
'  Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord  ! 
Lord  !  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven, but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Fa- 
ther which  is  in  heaven." — Matt.  vii. 

"  Remember  that  Jesus  Christ,  of  the  seed 
of  David,  was  raised  from  the  dead  ac- 
cording to  my  Gospel." — 2  Tim.  ii. 

"Young  men  likewise  exhort  to  be  sober- 
minded." — Tit.  ii. 

"  0  magnify  the  Lord  with  me,  and  let  us 
exalt  his  name  together." — Psalm  xxxiv. 

•'  But  speak  thou  the  things  that  become 
sound  doctrine." — Tit.  ii. 

"Only  let  your  conversation  be  such  as  be- 
cometh  the  Gospel  of  Christ." — Phil.  i. 

"  0  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  hi* 
goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  tc 
the  children  of  men." — Psalm  cvii. 

cc  Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence,  for  out 
of  it  are  the  issues  of  life." — Prov.  iv. 

•'  I  must  work  the  works  of  him  that  ser.t 
me  while  it  is  day  :  the  night  cometh  irc 
which  no  man  can  work." — John  ix. 

"  And  they  went  out  and  preached  every 
where  that  man  should  repent." — Mark 
vl. 

•''  He  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear." 
—Matt.  xi. 

Henry  Obookiah. 


HENRY  0B00KIAH.  75 

This  was  found  among  his  papers,  and  the 
original  is  in  his  own  hand  writing. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  his  letters 
written  whilst  residing  at  Canaan. 

"  Canaan,  Dec.  1815. 
"  My  Dear  Friend, 

11  Your  letter  I  have  received,  dated  the 
tenth  of  September.  It  was  with  great  plea- 
sure. I  shall  take  your  advice  in  the  all-im- 
portant things  which  belong  to  me  to  attend 
to  as  a  professor  of  religion.  I  know  the 
eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  me  day  and  night, 
and  beholding  all  my  wicked  actions  and 
motions  in  every  thing  which  I  do.  0  that 
the  Lord  would  be  my  help  ?  Am  I  yet  in 
the  gall  of  bitterness  and  in  the  bonds  of  ini- 
quity ?  I  neither  do  justly,  nor  love  mercy 
as  much  as  I  ought,  nor  walk  humbly  with 
my  God. 

11  The  work  of  grace  in  the  town  of  S.  is 
still  going  on  very  powerfully.  By  the  last 
account  which  I  have  heard,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  are  in  a  hopeful  state.  They 
are  now  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God.  And  many  others  are  inquiring  the 
way  to  Zion,  crying,  '  Men  and  brethren, 
what  shall  we  do  ?'  In  this  place  also,  many 
are  in  deepest  concern  about  their  souls.  0 
where  have  sinners  been  so  long  since  they 
had  discovered    the    name    of  the    Saviour 


76 


MEMOIRS   OF 


who  was  crucified  upon  the  cross,  and  yet 
they  have  not  come  to  him  until  now  ?  They 
have  known  their  Master's  will,  but  they 
have  not  done  it.  They  are  wise  to  do  evil, 
but  to  do  good  they  have  no  knowledge.  0 
wretched  sinners  will  you  come  to  the  foot 
of  the  cross  at  this  very  moment,  and  ask 
forgiveness  of  sins  ?  Hark  and  hear  the  voice 
of  him  that  knocketh  at  the  door  of  every 
sinner's  heart !  '  Behold  I  stand  at  the  door,' 
&c.  Christ  the  Saviour  is  knocking,  say- 
ing, "  Open  to  me,  my  sister,  my  love,  my 
dove,  my  undefiled,  for  my  head  is  filled 
with  dew,  and  my  locks  with  the  drops  of 
the  night."  I  cannot  help  weeping.  My 
tears  are  running  down  for  joy  to  hear  and 
see  sinners  flocking  to  the  Almighty  Jeho- 
vah. 0  that  all  sinners  may  come  to 
Christ ! 


"  Stop,  poor  sinners,  stop  and  think, 

Before  you  farther  go ! 
Will  you  sport  upon  the  brink 

Of  everlasting  wo  7" 


11  0  that  we  may  stop  and  think  where  we 
are,  and  upon  what  ground  we  are  standing, 
whether  it  be  holy  or  whether  it  be  unholy, 
or  whether  it  be  our  duty  to  do  the  will  of 
God  or  not.  We  now  live  here  upon  this 
earth,  and  how  long  we  shall  live  we  know 
not.     Death  will   soon  overtake  us,  for  we 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  77 

are  not  far  from  it.  My  dear  friend,  I  intreat 
you  to  be  much  engaged  in  prayer  for  thought- 
less and  stupid  sinners,  both  in  this  country  as 
well  as  in  other. 

"  I  would  thank  you  to  present  my  humble 
respects  to  all  your  family.  I  hope  I  shall 
see  them,  though  at  present  unknown  to 
each  other,  in  the  eternal  world;  if  I  do  not 
in  this  present  world.  May  God  be  gra- 
cious to  you  all.  Remember  me  in  your 
sweet  sacrifice  of  prayer  before  our  heavenly 
Father. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend." 

The  preceding  letter  was  written  to  Dea. 
H.  of  Danby,  in  the  state  of  New- York  ;  an 
elderly  gentleman  who  had  taken  a  very  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  Obookiah,  and  had 
written  to  him  a  letter  of  advice  soon  after  he 
made  a  profession  of  religion. 

That  which  follows  was  addressed  to  Mr. 
E.  B ,  in  the  state  of  New- York. 

"  Canaan,  May  1816. 
"  Having  received  your  most  kind  and 
affectionate  letter  a  few  days  ago,  it  much 
satisfied  me.  Notwithstanding  that  you  are 
ever  so  far  from  me,  yet  I  expect  to  meet 
you  at  the  bar  of  God.  0  how  glad  am  I  to 
hear  from  you,  Ephraim.  I  am  glad  to  hear 
that  your  mind  has  been  more  engaged  in 
regard  to  the  subject  of  religion,  than  when 
g2 


78  MEMOIRS  OF 

we  lived   together.     If  it  is  so,  my  friend 
that  you  have  such  thoughts  in  your  mind, 

I  urge  you  to  be  careful,  for  it  is  an  awful 
thing  to  be  deceived.  Set  your  heart  to- 
ward Christ,  and  in  him  you  may  find  help. 
Our  sins  are  very  great  and  reach  over  our 
heads,  and  there  is  nothing  which  can  make 
them  smaller  or  stop  them,  but  the  precious 
blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  has  all 
power  to  take  away  sin  from  the  world. 
The  Lord    Jesus  expressed    himself   thus — 

I I  that  speak  in  righteousness  mighty  to 
save.' 

11  You  mentioned  in  your  letter  that  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ  is  glorious  privilege. 
O  my  friend,  it  is  so.  We  can  say  or  think 
that  his  religion  is  a  very  important  thing, 
if  any  one  should  have  it,  but  we  are  not 
willing  to  seek  for  it.  If  the  Lord  has  been 
pleased  to  operate  on  your  mind  by  the  in- 
fluences of  his  Holy  Spirit,  as  you  trust  he 
has,  I  hope  the  Lord  will  still  continue  his 
work  in  you  through  life.  But  let  me  in- 
treat  you  to  put  your  whole  trust  in  God  ; 
make  him  sure  as  your  own  friend,  and 
above  all,  give  yourself  entirely  into  the 
hands  of  your  Saviour ;  who  came  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.  When  you 
write  to  me  let  me  know  all  about  your  feel- 
ings. I  long  to  see  you,  my  friend,  and  all 
your  father's  family.  I  remember  all  your 
father  and    mother's  kindness  while    I  was 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  79 

with  them ;  though  I  am  in  fear  that  I  do 
not  feel  thankful  enough  to  God  for  it. 

"  If  you  should  ever  come  to  Connecticut 
do  take  some  pains  to  find  me  where  I  am, 
for  I  long  to  see  you  with  brotherly  love. 

"  I  would  desire  your  solemn  prayer  be- 
fore your  heavenly  Father  for 

"  Your  affectionate  friend." 

To  Mr.  E.  W.  of  Torringford. 

"  August  5,  1816. 
'•  My  Dear  Friend, 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  think  it  strange  that 
such  an  one  as  I  should  write  to  you ;  for  I 
am  full  of  concern  for  the  souls  of  others. 

0  that  the  Lord  would  direct  you  in  the 
right  path. — May  the  Lord  teach  me  what 

1  ought  to  write  this  day.  I  have  heard  that 
your  sickness  is  still  continuing.  But  O, 
how  is  it  with  you  now  ?  Look  now,  my 
dear  Elijah,  and  see  whether  you  are  pre- 
pared or  unprepared,  or  whether  you  are  fit 
to  die  or  unfit — whether  you  are  the  Lord's 
or  not.  0  my  friend,  consider  how  many 
are  there  who  have  been  wheeled  down  to 
endless  torments,  in  the  chariots  of  earthly 
pleasures ;  while  others  have  been  whipped 
to  Heaven  by  the  rod  of  affliction.  0  how 
good  had  it  been  for  some  of  them  if  they 
had  never  known  the  way  of  life  by  the  cru- 
cified Saviour.  We  have  great  reason  to 
tremble  when  the  Holy  Scripture  teaches  us 


SO  MEMOIRS  OF 

that  few  shall  be  saved.  Much  more  when 
it  tells  us,  that  of  that  rank  of  which  we  are, 
but  few  shall  be  saved  :  for  it  is  written, 
'  Many  are  called,  but  few  chosen.'  I  often 
think  of  you,  my  dear  friend  Elijah,  since  I 
heard  of  your  sickness.  You  perhaps  some- 
times think  about  dying — and  what  must  be 
your  end — and  how  you  have  misimproved 
your  best  opportunities,  &c.  O  what  a 
dreadful  thing  it  is  to  die  in  a  sinful  state! 
My  friend,  how  do  you  expect  to  find  joy 
and  peace  in  Heaven  if  you  should  die  in 
your  sin  ?  How  have  you  neglected  the  free 
offer  of  salvation,  which  is  offered  to  you 
'  without  money  and  without  price!'  Haste, 
O  my  poor  friend,  and  get  up  out  of  your 
sleep  of  sin  and  death,  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  will  give  you  life,  comfort,  health 
and  strength — For  there  is  none  but  Christ 
can  do  a  helpless  sinner  good.  JSTow,  there- 
fore, my  friend,  haste  to  look  to  Christ  with 
faith,  and  ask  for  mercy  and  forgiveness  of 
your  sin.  I  feel  for  you  my  dear  friend,  for 
the  worth  of  your  poor  and  never-dying  souk 
O  don't  refuse  this  lovely  and  welcome  Sa- 
viour any  longer : — the  more  you  reject  him, 
the  more  you  grow  worse ;  the  more  you 
hate  him,  the  greater  will  be  your  condem- 
nation. 0  poor  Elijah,  choose  the  meek 
and  lowly  Jesus  for  your  everlasting  portion 
Consider  the  danger  in  which  you  now  live 
upon    the   brink    of  everlasting  wo.     Your 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  81 

sickness,  I  fear,  will  take  you  away  from  the 
world  into  a  solemn  and  silent  grave.  O 
Elijah,  Elijah  W.  where  are  you  ?  Are  you 
willing  to  leave  this  world  of  sin  and  death 
and  be  at  rest  ?  Are  you  willing  to  die  now  ? 
In  time  of  sickness  we  ought  to  keep  our 
hearts  right  towards  God,  in  order  to  be 
cheerfully  willing  to  die.  For  '  death  is 
harmless  to  the  people  of  God.' — '  The  right- 
eous hath  hope  in  his  death,  but  the  wicked 
is  driven  away  in  his  wickedness.'  Follow 
not,  my  dear  friend,  after  the  example  of 
mankind,  but  after  Christ's — make  no  kind 
of  excuse,  turn  unto  God  and  live.  Be  not 
offended  because  I  have  taken  this  opportu- 
nity to  write  to  you  in  such  a  manner.  Let 
all  be  taken  into  serious  consideration.  It 
cannot  hurt  you  my  earthly  friend.  And  it 
may  keep  your  heart  from  shrinking  back 
to  consider  that  death  is  necessary  to  fit  you 
for  the  full  enjoyment  of  God.  Whether 
you  are  willing  to  die  or  not,  there  certainly 
is  no  other  way  to  complete  the  happiness 
of  your  soul.  The  happiness  of  the  eternal 
world  of  heaven  commences  immediately  af- 
ter death.  Now  can  you,  my  dear  Elijah, 
say,  '  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  Father,  and 
say,  Father  I  have  sinned,'  &/C.  0  why  are 
you  so  unwilling  to  accept  the  free  offer  of 
mercy?  And  why  will  you  still  shut  Christ 
out  of  the  door  of  your  heart ;  when  he  still 
is  knocking,  and  saying,  '  Open  to  me  my 


82  MEMOIRS  OF 

sister,  my  love,'  &,c.  0  poor  friend  of  mine 
I  do  not  speak  of  your  being  poor  in  body, 
but  your  soul  is  poor :  wanting  of  the  bread 
of  life.  This  is  why  I  need  to  speak  of  your 
being  poor  : — for  without  the  love  of  God  in 
the  heart  of  a  man,  that  man  is  poor. 

"If  you  are  a  friend  of  Christ,  be  not 
afraid  of  death  and  eternity  ;  for  death  can- 
not hurt  you,  nor  your  soul.  Why  then  are 
you  afraid  that  your  sickness  is  unto  death  ? 
If  you  were  to  die  in  sin — if  death  were  to 
reign  over  you  '  as  a  tyrant — to  feed  upon 
you  as  a  lion  doth  upon  his  prey' — if  death 
were  to  you  to  be  the  prison  of  hell,  then  you 
might  reasonably  startle  and  shrink  back 
from  it,  with  horror  and  dismay.  But  if 
your  sin  has  been  blotted  out  of  the  Book  of 
God's  remembrance  ;  or  if  the  Saviour  hath 
begun  his  good  work  in  you,  why  should  you 
be  afraid  of  being  taken  away  from  the 
world  ?  and  why  not  bid  welcome  to  the 
King  of  terrors  ?  My  dear  Elijah,  our  lives 
are  short,  and  they,  like  the  smoke  of  the 
fire,  are  hastening  away. 

1  Well,  if  our  days  must  fl)T, 
"We'll  keep  their  end  in  sight,'  &c. 

"  Remember,  my  dear  Elijah,  that  1  am 
not  the  teacher  of  the  heart,  nor  the  judge 
of  it.  The  Lord  Jesus  is  your  teacher — He 
can  make  you  feel.     He  can  make  the  blind 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  83 

to  see — and  the  lame  to  walk — and  the  sick 
to  be  healed — and  above  all,  He  can  make 
you  and  I  happy  or  miserable  in  eternity. 
All  what  I  have  said  to  you,  my  friend,  will 
be  remembered  in  the  day  of  God's  wrath. 
You  and  I  shall  both  render  our  account  to 
that  God  who  hath  made  us,  at  the  day  of 
judgment,  for  what  deeds  we  have  done  in 
the  body.  Whether  we  have  done  every 
thing  right  in  the  sight  of  Jehovah,  or 
whether  we  have  not.  May  the  Lord  God 
of  Hosts  bless  you.  May  Jesus  make  you 
faithful  unto  death,  and  that  you  may  have 
at  last  the  crown  of  life  in  the  eternal  world 
of  glory. 

"  You,  0  parents  of  Elijah,  you  have  the 
means  of  doing  good  to  your  own  souls — to 
improve  your  time  in  the  service  of  God. 
Where  then  shall  you  be  after  the  return- 
ing of  your  bodies  to  the  dust — when  your 
bodies  shall  become  food  for  the  worms  of 
the  earth  ? 

"  Brothers  and  sisters  of  the  sick  man — 
Your  days  will  soon  be  over ;  and  the  road 
upon  which  you  are  all  riding  towards  eter- 
nity soon  will  be  ended.  Remember,  0  my 
friends,  that  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon 
you  all,  beholding  the  evil  and  the  good. 
Your  souls  are  worth  a  thousand  and  mil- 
lion times  more  than  such  a  world  as  this. 
Be  careful  lest  they  be  lost  in  the  snares 
and    temptations    of    Satan :    for    they    are 


84  MEMOIRS  OF 

many  and  ready  to  carry  away  your  souls 
into  darkness  and  despair.  0  that  the  Lord 
would  smile  upon  you  in  pity  and  compas- 
sion, and  save  you  from  eternal  death.  Look 
up  now,  my  friends,  to  Christ — which  is  your 
life." 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  Mr. 
W.  C.  now  a  member  of  Yale  College. 

"Canaan,  Sept.  7,  1816. 
"  My  Dear  Friend, 

lt  Our  interview  yesterday  was  but  short, 
and  our  short  conversation  with  each  other 
was  sweet  to  my  soul.  You  requested 
me  to  write  to  you,  for  which  I  am  now 
taking  my  pen  to  begin  our  correspond- 
ence :  not  because  I  am  destitute  of  com- 
panions here,  but  for  our  everlasting  good. 
There  is  one  of  the  best  friends  who  is 
above  all  earthly  friends;  even  Christ  Je- 
sus the  Lord.  But  we  are  all  by  nature 
the  greatest  and  strongest  enemies  to  him. 
'  All  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the 
glory  of  God.'  We  are  naturally  opposers 
to  God,  and  to  the  holiness  of  his  nature, 
and  unable  to  accept  of  his  mercy  which  is 
offered  to  us  ■  without  money  and  without 
price.' 

"  I  have  reason  to  bless  Jesus  Christ  that 
he  hath  wonderfully  turned  my  feet  from 
the  path  that  leadeth  down  to  an  endless 
wo.     There  is  nothing  more  that  I  can  do 


HENRY   OEOOKIAH.  bO 

<br  him,  for  his  great  and  wonderful  work 
in  the  soul  of  such  an  one  as  I,  than  to  be 
thankful  for  all  which  I  now  enjoy.  But 
this  is  not  ail — '  Give  me  thine  heart,  and 
let  thine  eyes  observe  my  ways,' — I  hope 
that  the  God  of  all  grace  has  been  gracious 
to  you,  as  he  has  to  me.  0  that  we  both 
may  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glory  here  and  hereafter.  The  religion  of 
Jesus  which  we  now  have  embraced  (as  we 
hope  we  are  passed  from  death  unto  life)  is 
a  strong  helper  of  the  soul,  to  help  us  on  the 
peaceful  shore. 

"  I  wish  I  could  express  my  weak  feel- 
ings to  you,  but  alas  !  I  cannot.  It  is  a  dif- 
ficult thing  to  tell  you  that  I  love  my  Ma- 
ker more  than  I  do  any  thing  else.  Truly 
I  do  not  love  him  enough.  I  have  faith  in 
him  but  a  little — but  I  am  sure  I  wish  to 
love  him  more  and  serve  him  better  than  I 
now  do.  0  what  a  stupid  wretch  and  hard- 
hearted sinner  am  I  !  Why  should  I  have 
been  spared  so  long,  while  many  of  my  fel- 
low mortals  are  gone  over  the  other  side  of 
the  gloomy  graves ;  and  I  am  yet  on  this 
side  of  eternity.  0  where  are  those  now 
who  have  gone  before  me  ?  Remember,  my 
dear  friend,  that  we  will  soon  return  to  the 
dust,  and  leave  this  world  of  perplexity  and 
trouble,  and  all  the  useless  pleasures  in  it, 
and  be  for  ever  miserable,  or  happy  in  the 
presence  of  the  King  of  glory.     0  how  hap- 


86  MEMOIRS  OF 

py  it  will  be  for  Christian  souls  to  meet  to- 
gether and  uniting  their  hearts  in  love  at  that 
time. 


When  shall  I  reach  that  happy  place, 
And  be  for  ever  blest  ? 
When  shall  I  see  my  Father's  face, 
And  in  his  bosom  rest  V 


1  It  is  no  matter  however  long  or  short 
the  lives  of  Christians  are,  if  their  best  mo- 
ments are  well  improved,  in  order  to  meet 
their  lovely  Jesus  in  peace  whenever  they 
are  called  for.  Let  us  live,  my  dear  friend, 
as  a  stranger,  and  pilgrims  on  earth — let 
us  feel  lively  in  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God 
— let  us  both  seek  for  a  better  country  than 
this — let  us  be  faithful  and  humble  believ- 
ers of  Jesus.  I  think  I  can  truly  say  to  my 
Lord,  Lord  my  body  and  soul  are  in  thine 
hands,  do  with  them  according  to  thy  holy 
will.  Thy  will  be  done  and  not  mine.  The 
happiness  of  this  world  is  nothing  but  a 
dream.  It  will  soon  pass  away  as  the  wind 
that  bloweth.  We  must  give  up  all  for 
Heaven,  lest  we  perish  at  the  presence  of 
the  Judge.  The  best  present  that  we  ought 
to  make  to  Christ,  is  to  give  our  whole 
hearts  to  him — and  not  '  gold  and  frankin- 
cense and  myrrh'  as  wise  men  of  the  East 
did. 

"  Do  remember,  my  friend,  those  that  are 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  87 

around  you  whose  sins  are  unpardoned.  Do 
pray  for  them.  Remember  my  poor  coun- 
trymen, who  know  not  the  way  of  life  by  a 
Redeemer.  Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  your 
affectionate  friend, 

"Henry  Obookiah." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1816,  Hen- 
ry went  to  Amherst  in  Massachusetts,  for 
the  purpose  of  accompanying  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Perkins,  an  agent  of  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missions,  in  a  tour 
through  that  section  of  the  country,  to  soli- 
cit donations  for  the  benefit  of  the  Foreign 
Mission  School.  The  success  of  the  solici- 
tations was  greatly  promoted  by  the  pre- 
sence of  Obookiah.  Contributions  were 
highly  liberal,  and  often  drawn  from  sources 
not  before  accustomed  to  yield  any  aid  to 
purposes  of  charity. 

The  interest  which  he  had  excited  to- 
wards himself  personally  is  expressed  in  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Perkins,  written  soon  after 
nis  death.  "  He  was  much  beloved,"  he 
says,  "by  all  who  knew  him  in  this  region. 
He  had  awakened  a  lively  interest  in  his 
welfare  among  them ;  and  his  death  has  cast 
a  gloom  over  them  which  will  not  soon  be 
dispelled.  His  recall  to  the  world  of  spi- 
rits is  one  of  those  deep  things  of  Providence 
which  we  cannot  fathom." 

A  letter  since  received  from  the  same  re- 


88  MEMOIRS  OF 

spected  source,  contains  several  facts  and 
observations  which  illustrate  his  character, 
and  evince  the  peculiar  acceptableness  and 
influence  of  his  visit  in  that  quarter. 

"  I  have  rarely,  if  ever,  (says  Mr.  Perkins,) 
seen  a  person  who  seemed  to  set  so  high  a 
value  on  time  as  Obookiah.  What  others 
would  call  leisure  hours,  would  be  busy 
hours  with  him.  When  alone,  he  was  de- 
lighted in  his  literary  studies.  When  in 
company,  improvement  was  his  object — and 
if  the  conversation  was  not  immediately  in- 
teresting to  him,  he  would  take  his  Pocket 
Testament  and  read,  or  repair  to  his  study 
and  his  books. 

"At  a  little  circle  of  friends  one  even- 
ing, he  said  to  me  in  a  whisper,  '  Time  is 
precious,  here  are  a  few  souls  going  to  eter- 
nity, 'tis  a  good  opportunity  to  improve.' 
Just  as  we  were  about  to  retire  at  the  close 
of  the  evening,  he  addressed  two  youth  in 
the  room  for  a  few  minutes,  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  with  great  apparent  effect. — 
Whether  the  alarm  of  conscience,  which  he 
was  instrumental  of  exciting,  proved  lasting 
or  not,  I  have  never  known.  So  valuable 
was  time  in  his  estimation,  that  if  he  had 
passed  a  day  or  an  hour  unprofitably,  he 
would  speak  of  it  with  deep  regret. 

"  His  humility  deserves  our  notice. — One 
fact  will  illustrate  this  feature  in  his  religious 
character. 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  ©» 

"  In  visiting  different  towns,  it  was  my 
practice  to  gratify  the  people,  by  calling  on 
Obookiah  to  address  thern  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity.  He  was  always  appropriate, 
solemn,  and  interesting.  Many  nattering 
remarks  were  frequently  made  to  him  on 
that  account.  But  though  this  was  calcu- 
lated to  foster  pride,  and  inspire  him  with 
unbecoming  confidence,  yet  it  actually  pro- 
duced the  opposite — humility  and  self-dis- 
trust. A.  circumstance  took  place  which 
justifies  this  observation. 

"At  a  village  of  considerable  magnitude, 
after  the  Missionary  service  had  been  per- 
formed, the  Rev.  Pastor  of  the  Church  ap- 
pointed an  evening  meeting.  Just  before 
the  meeting,  it  was  observed  to  Obookiah, 
that  some  remarks  would  be  expected  from 
him.  He  modestly  declined.  The  subject 
was  urged.  He  said,  '  I'm  a  poor  heathen, 
I  don't  know  enough  to  teach  people  who 
live  in  Christian  land.'  Being  under  my 
care,  he  applied  to  me  to  excuse  him  from 
the  service.  I  replied  to  him,  that  I  be- 
lieved it  to  be  his  duty.  The  people  had 
contributed  generously.  They  were  anx- 
ious to  hear  him  speak  on  the  subject  of  re- 
ligion. You  have  always  succeeded  well. 
And  what  you  shall  say  may  prove  a  savour 
of  life  to  some  soul.  Soon  after,  as  we  were 
passing  to  the  meeting-house,  observing  his 
extreme  reluctance,  I  asked  the  Rev.  Mr. 
h2 


90  MEMOIRS    OF 

B.  to  urge  and  encourage  him.    Many  things 
were  said  to  persuade   him,  but  his   reluc- 
tance appeared  to  be  invincible.     As  we  ar- 
rived  at  the  door,  he  again  fled  to  me  foi 
refuge.     Said  he,    '  Do  excuse  me — I  can't 
say  any  thing — You  can  preach — it  will  do 
more  good.'     I  told  him  I  could  not,  as  the 
people  would  be  greatly  disappointed.     But 
when  I  said  this,  such  had  been  his  anxiety 
and  such  his  manner  of  expressing  his  feel 
ings,  that  tears  instantly  started  in  my  eyes 
and  gladly   would  I   have  preached  for  his 
relief.     When    the    proper    time   came,    he 
was  called  upon  to  address  the  meeting.     He 
deliberately   rose,  and  addressed  the  people 
with    his    usual    propriety    and    seriousness. 
At  the  close  of  the  service,  I  passed  by  his 
pew,  and  invited  him  to  walk  with  me.    He 
was   bathed    in    tears.      I    did    not   hesitate 
about   the   cause. — I    tried    much    to   sooth 
his  feelings,  but  it  was  to  no  purpose.     Mr. 
B.  perceiving  them,  made  an  attempt  to  pa- 
cify him,   but   was   unsuccessful.     His   soul 
seemed    to   refuse    comfort.       This    was   on 
our  way  to  our  lodgings.     When  we  arrived 
at  the   house,   I    mentioned   his  feelings   to 
the  kind  family  where  we   were  to  lodge 
Every  expedient  was  tried  to  restore  him  to 
his  wonted  cheerfulness.     But  all  our  efforts 
were  unavailing.     After  about  an  hour,  one 
of  the  family  took  a  seat  near  him,  with  a 
view  to  divert  his  mind.     This  attempt  was 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  91 

successful, — and  the  first  sentence  he  utter- 
ed, was,  '  I'm  a  poor  unworthy  sinner — I 
feel  as  though  I  was  lost.'  His  customary- 
cheerfulness  soon  returned,  and  many  in  the 
little  circle,  who  sat  a  long  time  sorrowing, 
had  their  sorrow  turned  into  joy. 

"  The  Bible  was  his  best  and  constan 
companion.  He  always  carried  in  his 
pocket  a  Testament,  which  was  presented  to 
him  by  a  friend,  who  is  now  a  Missionary 
to  the  heathen.  At  a  certain  time  he  went 
about  ten  miles  to  visit  one  of  his  country- 
men.— In  changing  his  clothes,  he  left  his 
Pocket  Testament.  On  his  return,  he  plea- 
santly said  to  me,  f  Blind  man  don't  walk 
very  safely  without  his  staff.' 

"  Obookiah's  visit  to  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try was  of  essential  service  to  the  cause  of 
Foreign  Missions.  It  has  silenced  the  weak 
but  common  objection  against  attempting  to 
enlighten  the  Heathen,  that  they  are  too 
ignorant  to  be  taught.  This  sentiment  has 
prevented  much  exertion.  It  had  a  wicked 
origin.  We  have  first  enslaved  our  fellow 
beings,  then  degraded  them  by  every  me- 
nial service,  deprived  them  of  the  means  of 
mental  improvement,  and  almost  of  human 
intercourse ;  and  because,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, people  of  colour  are  devoid  of 
knowledge,  we  have  hastened  to  the  irra- 
tional conclusion,  that  all  the  Heathen  are  a 
race   of  idiots.      Adopting   this   conclusion 


92  MEMOIRS  OF 

multitudes  are  utterly  opposed  to  making 
any  attempt  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to 
light.  Influenced  by  this  opinion,  ground- 
less as  it  is,  no  reasonings,  or  arguments,  or 
motives,  which  can  be  offered,  are  of  any 
avail.  But  the  appearance  of  Obookiah  has 
done  much  in  this  region  to  wipe  off  this 
disgrace  thrown  upon  the  Heathen,  and  to 
remove  the  objection  so  often  made.  The 
proof  he  gave  of  talents,  as  well  as  of  piety, 
carried  conviction  to  many  that  the  Heathen 
had  souls  as  well  as  we,  and  were  as  capa- 
ble of  being  enlightened  and  christianized. 
Acknowledgments  to  this  effect  have  fre- 
quently been  made  to  me ;  and  now  in  the. 
circle  of  his  travels,  there  is  no  occasion  to 
combat  this  objection. 

"  Another  effect  produced  by  his  visit  to 
this  region  is,  that  it  has  roused  the  slum- 
bering energies  of  those  who  have  hitherto 
done  nothing  in  the  missionary  cause.  ?*Ian\ 
have  become  interested  for  the  benighted 
Heathen,  and  satisfied  that  the  conversion 
of  them  to  Christianity  is  practicable.  And 
though  they  have  never  before  lifted  a  fin- 
ger, or  contributed  a  mite,  have  now  been 
prevailed  on  to  do  something.  In  several 
instances,  dollars  were  handed  me  by  per- 
sons who  confessed  that  they  had  never  done 
any  thing  before.  This  is  an  effect  produc- 
ed, which  is  not  of  a  transient  nature,  bui 
permanent.     A  feeling  in  the  cause  of  mis- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  93 

sious  has  been  excited,  which  will   not  soon 
subside. 

"  His  visit  moreover  has  enkindled  a  spirit 
of  prayer  and  benevolence  in  the  bosoms  of 
God's  children,  which  was  very  much  need- 
ed. Coldness  and  a  circumscribed  charity 
were  too  apparent.  Especially  were  these 
visible  with  respect  to  the  Heathen.  But 
now  there  is  evidently  an  increase  of  ferven- 
cy and  holy  wrestlings  in  the  addresses  of 
Christians  to  the  throne  of  grace.  They 
intercede  for  the  unevangelized  nations  as 
though  it  was  their  heart's  desire  that  they 
might  be  saved.  Their  benevolent  efforts 
are  more  numerous,  and  more  liberal.  They 
not  only  exert  themselves  in  this  glorious 
cause,  but  they  use  their  influence  to  induce 
others  to  come  and  do  likewise.  They  re- 
fer them  to  Obookiah  as  an  instance  of  the 
propriety  and  practicability  of  missionary  ex 
ertion.  While  this  instance  encourages  then 
own  efforts,  it  greatly  emboldens  them  in 
urging  upon  others  the  necessity  and  expe- 
diency of  constant  exertion  in  the  cause  ot 
the  Heathen. 

"  Such  have  been  the  effects  of  Obookiah  s 
tour  in  this  region.  And  since  such  are 
the  effects,  and  such  was  his  character,  it 
is  not  surprising  that  his  death  is  so  much 
lamented.  Many  flattering  hopes  were  ex- 
cited in  the  breasts  of  his  friends  here,  but 
a  righteous  Providence  has  seen  fit  to  blast 


94 


MEMOIRS    OF 


them — But  we  have  a  foundation  for  our 
hopes  that  cannot  be  shaken.  On  this  we 
may  rest  the  heathen  cause,  and  feel  secure, 
while  human  means  and  promising  agents 
are  swept  away." 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  Oboo- 
kiah  whilst  at  Amherst,  to  his  companions  at 
£>outh  Farms,  (Litchfield.) 

"  Amherst,  Jan.  1,  1817. 
"  My  Dear  Brethren, 

"  I  long  to  see  you  all.  You  may  perhaps 
be  glad  to  hear  from  me,  and  to  know  how 
I  am.  I  hope  you  are  doing  well,  both  in 
your  studies,  and  your  religious  exercises  of 
the  morning  and  the  evening,  which  is  the 
duty  of  prayer. 

"  I  have  seen  one  of  our  own  countrymen 
at  Enfield,  about  nine  miles  from  this  place. 
He  has  been  in  that  place  for  ten  years,  and 
two  years  at  Boston."  Thus,  he  continued 
in  this  country  just  twelve  years.  He  did 
come  from  Owhyhee,  and  also  his  native 
place  was  Koihi,  (well  known  such  place.) 
From  that  place  Capt.  John  took  him  on 
board  the  ship,  and  brought  him  over  here, 
when  he  was  not  but  fourteen  years  of  age. 
His  native  name  was  Nablemah-hownah. 
Since  I  saw  him  I  could  converse  with  him 
but  little,  for  he  has  lost  the  greatest  part  of 
our  language.  But  he  could  recollect  the 
names  of  many  things,  as  far  as  he  was  able 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  95 

to  describe  them  to  me.  While  I  was  with 
him  he  could  not  keep  his  eyes  away  from 
me  for  wonder  and  gladness,  to  see  such  a 
one  who  came  from  his  own  country.  I 
staid  with  him  two  days  at  Enfield  not  long 
since.  I  spended  the  whole  of  my  time  with 
him  while  I  was  there.  The  first  that  I  did, 
I  took  him  by  my  side,  to  converse  with  him 
upon  serious  subjects.  By  his  own  words, 
I  judged  him  to  be  as  one  who  was  willing 
to  accept  of  the  free  offer  of  mercy,  though 
I  fear  he  may  in  a  time  of  temptation  fall 
away,  and  all  that  which  is  sown  in  the 
heart.  0  my  dear  brethren  and  friends,  he 
needed  your  prayers.  Pray  for  him,  that 
he  may  be  brought  to  see  the  goodness  of 
the  Lord,  and  that  he  may  be  faithful  to  his 
own  soul.  Do  not  delay  your  prayers  to  the 
Almighty  God  for  such  a  one,  that  is  very 
dear  to  you.  He  now  feels  as  though  he 
was  one  of  the  greatest  sinners  that  ever 
lived.  Do  you  not  all  feel  anxious  for  the 
soul  of  your  own  countryman,  here  now  in 
this  country?  0  that  he  may  devote  himself 
to  the  service  of  his  Creator!  I  observed 
many  times  while  I  prayed  with  him,  he 
would  deeply  cry  with  such  a  dismal  gloomy, 
as  if  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty  was  upon 
him.  I  have  heard  last  Sabbath  noon,  by  a 
man  who  was  well  known  to  him,  that  this 
young  man  becomes  more  thoughtful  ever 
since  I  come  away.     If  this  be  the  case,  I 


90  MEMOIRS   OF 

would  humbly  beg  at  the  mercy  seat  for 
your  prayers,  that  they  may  not  be  hindered. 
I  shall  see  him  again  before  a  long  time. 
He  longs  to  see  you.* 

"  May  God  be  with  you  all." 

Henry  returned  from  Amherst  in  April  to 
South  Farms.  Here  he  remained  with  his 
countrymen,  until  the  first  of  May ;  when 
the  school  was  removed  to  Cornwall,  the 
place  of  its  permanent  location. 

He  now  had  his  mind  bent  upon  becom- 
ing prepared,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  He  paid  particular  at- 
tention to  preaching,  and  made  many  remarks 
upon  the  subjects  of  sermons,  and  the  man- 
ner of  preaching  them. 

Some  observations  upon  a  common  defect 
in  preaching  are  well  recollected.  He  com- 
plained of  the  practice  of  those  ministers, 
who  used  such  language  in  their  sermons 
as  was  unintelligible  to  most  of  their  hear- 
ers. Ministers,  he  said,  preached  to  per- 
sons of  every  description;  almost  all  were 
ignorant,  very  few  had  learning,  and  if  they 
preach  to  all  the  people,  they  ought  to  preach 
so  that  all  can  understand.     They  ought  to 


*  This  youth  is  now  a  member  of  the  Foreign  Mis- 
sion School,  and  exhibits  hopeful  evidence  of  piety.  The 
impressions  made  by  the  conversation  of  Obookiah  were 
never  loat. 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  97 

use  plain  language.  If  not,  he  said,  "  as 
well  might  preach  in  unknown  tongue." 
Every  word,  he  thought,  should  be  plain, 
for  "  people,"  said  he,  "  can't  carry  dictionary 
to  meeting." 

As  Obookiah,  at  the  time  of  his  entrance 
into  the  school  at  Cornwall,  had  arrived  at 
an  age  of  considerable  maturity,  it  may  be 
proper  that  a  more  particular  description 
should  now  be  given  of  his  person  and  cha- 
racter. 

He  was  considerably  above  the  ordinary 
size :  but  little  less  than  six  feet  in  height, 
and  in  his  limbs  and  body  proportionably 
large.  His  form,  which  at  sixteen  was  awk- 
ward and  unshapen,  had  become  erect,  grace- 
ful, and  dignified.  His  countenance  had  lost 
every  mark  of  dulness;  and  was,  in  an  un- 
usual degree,  sprightly,  and  intelligent.  His 
features  were  strongly  marked.  They  were 
expressive  of  a  sound  and  penetrating  mind. 
He  had  a  piercing  eye,  a  prominent  Roman 
lose,  and  a  projecting  chin. 

His  complexion  was  olive,  varied  equally 
from  the  blackness  of  the  African,  and  the 
redness  of  the  Indian.  His  hair  was  black, 
worn  short,  and  dressed  after  the  manner  of 
the  Americans. 

In  his  disposition  he  was  amiable  and  af- 
fectionate. His  temper  was  mild.  Passion 
was  not  easily  excited,  nor  long  retained 
Revenge,  or  resentment,  it  is  presumed, 
i 


98  MEMOIRS  OF 

was  never  known  to  be  cherished  in  his 
heart. 

He  loved  his  friends,  and  was  grateful  for 
the  favours  which  he  received  from  them. 
In  his  journal  and  letters  are  found  frequen* 
expressions  of  affection  and  gratitude  to 
those  who  had  been  his  benefactors.  To 
families  in  which  he  had  lived,  or  to  indivi- 
duals who  had  been  his  particular  patrons, 
he  felt  an  ardent  attachment.  One  of  the 
latter,  who  had  been  separated  from  him  for 
a  considerable  time,  he  met  with  great  de- 
light; and  after  the  first  customary  saluta- 
tions, said  to  him,  "  I  want  to  see  you  great 
while:  you  don't  know  how  you  seem  to  me: 
you  seem  like  father,  mother,  brother,  all." 

In  his  understanding,  Obookiah  excelled 
ordinary  young  men.  His  mind  was  not  of 
a  common  cast.  It  was  such,  that,  with 
proper  culture,  it  might  have  become  a 
mind  of  the  first  order.  Its  distinguishing 
traits  were  sound  common  sense,  keen  dis- 
cernment, and  an  inquisitiveness  or  enter- 
prise which  disposed  him  to  look  as  far  as 
his  mind  could  reach  into  every  subject  that 
was  presented  to  his  attention. 

By  his  good  sense  he  was  accustomed  to 
view  subjects  of  every  kind  in  their  proper 
light;  to  see  things  as  they  are.  He  seldom 
misconceived  or  misjudged.  By  his  com- 
panions his  counsel  was  sought,  and  regard- 
ed as  decisive.     He  had  that  clear  sense  of 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  99 

propriety  with  regard  to  his  own  conduct 
and  the  conduct  of  others,  which  always 
commands  the  respect  or  excites  the  fear 
of  those  who  behold  it.  Had  he  been  dis- 
posed to  cultivate  a  talent  for  this  purpose,  he 
would  have  become  one  of  the  severest  of 
critics  upon  the  manners  and  conduct  of  those 
around  him. 

Few  persons  have  a  deeper  insight  into 
the  characters  of  men,  or  have  the  power  of 
forming  a  more  just  estimate  of  them,  by 
their  words  and  actions,  than  he  had.  Few 
are  more  capable  of  perceiving  the  exact 
import  of  language,  or  are  less  liable  to  be 
deceived  as  to  its  real  meaning,  by  a  design- 
ed ambiguity  of  terms. 

His  inquisitiveness  existed  in  relation  to 
all  subjects  of  interest,  and  disposed  him  to 
make  himself  acquainted  with  every  thing 
that  was  known  by  others,  and  to  discover 
whatever  was  within  his  reach.  The  trait 
was  exhibited,  especially,  in  his  character  as 
a  scholar. 

His  inquisitive  mind  was  not  satisfied  with 
pursuing  the  usual  round  of  study,  but  he 
was  disposed  to  understand  critically  every 
branch  of  knowledge  to  which  he  attended. 
For  this  reason,  his  progress  in  his  studies 
was  not  rapid — but  as  a  scholar  he  was  in- 
dustrious, ingenious  and  thorough.  His 
mind  was  also  inventive.     After  having  ac- 


100  MEMOIRS  OF 

quired  some  slight  knowledge  of  the  English 
language  in  its  grammatical  construction,  he 
entered  upon  the  project  of  reducing  to  sys- 
tem his  own  native  language.  As  it  was  not 
a  written  language,  but  lay  in  its  chaotic 
state,  every  thing  was  to  be  done.  With 
some  assistance  he  had  made  considerable 
progress  towards  completing  a  grammar,  a 
dictionary,  and  a  spelling-book. 

He  had  also  translated  into  his  native  lan- 
guage the  whole  of  the  book  of  Genesis. 

These  specimens  of  his  industry  and  inge- 
nuity, when  seen,  administer  severe  reproof 
to  the  sloth  and  dulness  of  most  persons  of 
much  greater  age,  and  of  advantages  far  su- 
perior to  his  own.* 

When  Obookiah  became  a  member  of  the 
Foreign  Mission  School,  he  had  attended  to 
all  the  common  branches  of  English  educa- 
tion. In  reading,  writing,  and  spelling,  he 
was  perhaps  as  perfect  as  most  young  men 


*  In  accomplishing  this  labour,  Obookiah  received  the 
assistance  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  F.  now  Professor  of  Divinity 
in  Yale  College.  He  had  some  assistance  also  from 
others.  The  manuscripts,  however,  are  all  his  own 
hand  writing :  and  considered  merely  as  proofs  of  appli- 
cation, are  greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  industry  and  enter- 
prise of  one  so  young,  and  uninstructed.  They  could 
liave  cost  him  no  less  than  the  constant  labour  of  many 
months. 

These  manuscripts,  though  now  imperfect,  will  afford 
much  aid  to  future  translators  and  Missionaries. 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  101 

of  our  country,  of  the  same  age  and  with 
common  opportunities.  He  wrote  a  legible, 
manly  hand,  and  acquired  the  habit  of  writ- 
ing with  considerable  rapidity.  He  had  at 
this  time  studied  the  English  Grammar  so  far 
as  to  be  able  to  parse  most  sentences  with  rea- 
diness. He  understood  the  important  rules  in 
common  Arithmetic,  and  had  obtained  consi- 
derable knowledge  of  Geography.  He  had 
studied  also  one  book  of  Euclid's  Elements 
of  Geometry,  and  of  his  own  accord,  with- 
out a  regular  instructer,  he  had  acquired  such 
knowledge  of  the  Hebrew,  that  he  had  been 
able  to  read  several  chapters  in  the  Hebrew 
Bible,  and  had  translated  a  few  passages 
into  his  native  language.  He  had  a  peculiar 
relish  for  the  Hebrew  language,  and  from  its 
resemblance  to  his  own,  acquired  it  with  great 
facility.* 

The  winter  before  he  came  to  the  school 
he  commenced  the  study  of  Latin.  This,  he 
pursued  principally  after  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Institution. 

In  his  manners,  Obookiah  was  habitually 
grave  and  reserved.  In  the  presence  of  his 
friends,  however,  his  conversation  was  often 
sprightly,   and  rendered   particularly    enter- 


*  In  consequence  of  this  resemblance  in  the  structure 
of  the  two  languages,  Obookiah  found  it  much  less  diffi- 
cult to  translate  the  Hebrew,  than  the  English,  into  his 
native  tongue. 

i2 


102  MEMOIRS  OF 

taining,  by  a  fondness  for  humour,  for  which 
he  was  distinguished.  This  he  oftener  ex- 
hibited by  a  quick  perception  and  relish  foi 
it  in  others,  than  by  actually  displaying  it  in 
himself.  Yet  he  sometimes  gave  evidence 
in  his  own  remarks,  of  possessing  no  small 
degree  of  genuine  wit.  When  conversing 
with  his  companions  in  their  native  language, 
he  frequently  afforded  them  much  amusement 
by  the  pleasant  and  humorous  cast  of  his 
conversation. 

The  customary  deportment  of  Obookiah, 
however,  was  serious,  and  dignity  striking- 
ly characterized  his  manners.  Few  young 
men,  it  is  presumed,  command  so  much 
respect  from  persons  of  every  age  and  cha- 
racter. Notwithstanding  the  familiarity 
which  he  used  with  his  companions,  he 
maintained  an  influence  over  them,  becom- 
ing the  relation  of  an  elder  brother,  or  even 
that  of  a  respected  parent.  In  his  inter- 
course with  them  the  dignity  of  his  charac- 
ter was  peculiarly  visible.  A  motion  of  his 
head  often  made  known  to  them  his  will, 
and  obtained  the  compliance  which  he  de- 
sired. 

His  manners  had  become  in  a  considera- 
ble degree  refined.  A  gentleman  of  respec- 
tability who  visited  Cornwall,  and  had  a 
particular  interview  with  him,  observed, 
that  he  had  met  with  but  few  persons  of  any 
country,  more  gentlemanly  in  their  manners, 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  103 

or  intelligent  and  interesting  in  their  conver- 
sation. 

Obookiah  was  a  decided  and  consistent 
Christian.  His  conduct  was  habitually  un- 
der the  influence  of  principles  of  piety.  He 
manifested  a  strong  interest  in  the  general 
prosperity  of  religion,  and  expressed  in  his 
conversation,  as  well  as  his  letters  and  diary, 
ardent  desires  for  the  salvation  of  his  fellow- 
men  ;  and  especially  of  his  countrymen,  for 
whom  he  fervently  prayed,  and  in  whose  be- 
half he  often  requested  the  earnest  prayers 
of  his  friends. 

In  his  writings,  satisfactory  evidence  is 
furnished  of  his  own  personal  experience  of 
the  power  of  divine  grace.  In  these  may 
be  seen,  his  convictions  concerning  the  cha- 
racter of  his  unrenewed  heart ;  his  views  of 
the  grace  and  glory  of  the  Saviour ;  his  en- 
tire reliance  upon  the  merits  of  Christ  for 
justification,  and  the  employments  and  duties 
in  which  he  found  his  only  happiness  through 
the  whole  course  of  his  Christian  life. 

Besides  this  evidence,  and  that  which  was 
furnished  by  his  exemplary  conduct,  the  fol- 
lowing facts  will  afford  additional  proof  of 
his  ardent  piety. 

While  a  member  of  the  Institution  at 
Cornwall,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  attending  a 
weekly  meeting  with  his  companions  on  Sa- 
turday evening  ;  in  which,  in  addition  to  the 


104  MEMOIRS  OF 

usual  exercises  of  a  religious  meeting,  he 
questioned  them  individually  concerning  the 
state  of  their  minds,  and  addressed  to  them 
such  observations  as  the  particular  situation 
of  each  seemed  to  demand.  Others  in  a  few 
instances  have  been  present,  and  have  been 
greatly  surprised  both  at  the  ability  which 
he  possessed  of  eliciting  the  feelings  of  his 
companions,  and  at  the  pertinency  and  wis- 
dom of  his  remarks. 

He  once  observed  to  a  friend,  whilst  in 
health,  "  I  have  many  times  so  much  enjoy- 
ment in  the  night  I  cannot  sleep." 

At  another  time,  "  When  I  have  done  wrong, 
I  am  always  sorry — I  am  so  sorry!" 

He  excelled  and  delighted  in  prayer.  In 
a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins,  who 
often  witnessed  his  performance  of  this  duty 
in  public  assemblies,  and  had  also  a  favour- 
able opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  his  secret  devotions,  it  is  observed, 
"  Prayer  seemed  to  be  his  daily  and  nightly 
business :  in  this  duty  he  not  only  appeared 
to  take  great  delight,  but  he  was  pertinent, 
copious,  and  fervent.  It  was  almost  impos- 
sible to  hear  him  pray  and  not  be  drawn 
into  a  devotional  frame.  I  have  repeatedly 
witnessed  great  numbers  in  a  meeting  melt- 
ed into  weeping,  and  in  one  instance  the 
greater  part  of  the  assembly,  and  several 
sobbing,  while  he  stood  before  the  throne  of 


5IENRY   OBOOKIAH.  105 

God,  filling  his  mouth  with  arguments  and 
pleading  for  Christian  and  Heathen  nations. 

"  He  remarked  to  me  one  morning  as  we 
were  journeying,  that  the  night  previous  he 
had  spent  chiefly  in  prayer  for  a  youth  who 
happened  to  reside  in  the  family  where  we 
had  been  kindly  entertained." 

He  was  once  requested  by  a  clergyman  to 
attend  a  religious  meeting  with  him,  and 
make  such  observations  as  he  thought  pro- 
per to  the  people.  Previously  to  the  hour 
appointed  for  the  meeting,  he  proposed  to 
the  minister  that  they  should  retire,  and 
spend  a  short  time  in  supplicating  the  bless- 
ing of  God  upon  the  duties  they  were  about 
to  perform. 

Obookiah  considered  it  as  his  duty,  and 
made  it  his  habitual  practice,  to  converse, 
as  he  had  opportunity,  with  persons  whom 
he  supposed  to  be  destitute  of  grace,  and 
urge  upon  them  the  necessity  of  immediate 
repentance.  In  several  instances  his  con- 
versation has  made  impressions  which  have 
terminated  in  an  apparent  conversion  of  the 
soul  to  God. 

After  Henry's  return  from  Massachusetts 
he  maintained  a  correspondence  with  seve- 
ral persons  of  respectability,  residing  in  the 
different  parts  of  the  country  which  he  had 
visited.  A  very  few  only  of  his  letters  have 
been  obtained  ;  and  parts  of  these  are  of  so 
local   and    private   a   nature   as   to   prevent 


106  MEMOIRS  OF 

their  being  inserted  with  propriety  in  this 
volume. 

Extracts  from  two  of  them  will  follow. — 
The  first  was  addressed  to  S.  W.  Esq.  of 
Greenfield. 

"  Cornwall,  June  16,  1817. 
"  My  Dear  Sir, 

"  Again  I  take  my  pen  to  embrace  this 
opportunity  in  writing.  Indeed,  on  this 
very  day  1  received  a  most  affectionate  let- 
ter ;  and  when  I  come  to  unseal  it,  lo !  it 
was  from  my  dear  beloved  friend,  Mr.  S. 
W.!  How,  or  what  an  answer  can  I  give 
for  it  ?  My  dear  friend,  I  received  your  let- 
ter with  a  thankful  heart.  I  rejoice  to  hear 
that  you  have  still  a  lively  thought  concern- 
ing the  great  things  of  eternity.  0  that  our 
thoughts  and  hearts  may  be  united  together 
in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  love  of  the  Lord 
Jesus — whom  you  spoke  well  of.  Indeed, 
my  dearest  friend,  we  are  in  a  great  debt, 
both  to  God  and  to  his  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
We  have  owed  them  ten  thousands  of  talents  ! 
and  alas !  how  would  we  repay  for  all  ?  Not- 
withstanding the  greatness  of  our  due  to 
God  for  all  his  goodness  and  kindness  to- 
wards  us,  yet  we  can  repay  it,  by  giving  up 
ourselves  to  him  :  for  he  does  not  wish  for 
ours,  but  us :  for  thus  it  is  written,  '  My 
son  give  me  thine  heart,  and  let  thine  eyes 
observe  my  ways.    Your  observations  which 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  107 

you  observed  in  this  your  letter,  are  just  as 
the  thoughts  of  a  true  and  humble  believer 
in  God — -and  as  one  that  fears  God.  Surely 
it  is  as  you  say,  that  the  supreme  love  and 
affection  must  we  give  to  him,  who  is  the 
Lord  over  all  and  blessed  for  ever.  Pray  that 
these  thoughts  may  not  be  mislaid  in  our  hearts. 

"  Since  I  received  your  letter,  my  com- 
panions had  the  curiosity  for  knowing  the 
person  from  whom  the  letter  was  sent.  I  told 
them  from  one  of  my  friends  at  the  place 
where  I  was  kindly  treated  by  them.  They 
were  very  much  pleased  with  the  letter — 
supposed  that  you  was  a  friend  of  Christ, 
and  a  true  believer  in  God,  by  what  you 
spoke  well,  both  of  Christ  and  his  character. 
To  whom  I  answered  that  I  had  a  strong 
love  for  you,  and  hope  that  you  may  be  a 
fellow-traveller  through  the  journey  of  this 
wilderness  world.  O  that  we  both  may  meet 
in  the  presence  of  God  in  the  eternal  world 
above,  where  sin  will  never  enter  there.  Let 
us  not  neglect  the  duty  which  we  owe  to 
God  to  love  him  with  our  hearts,  souls  and 
strength — and  let  us  pray  without  ceasing. 

"  With  this  I  must  leave   you,  my  dear 
friend,  in  the  hand  of  God.     Look  to  him  to 
receive  instruction  and  to  know  his  holy  cha 
racter." 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  A.  S 
Esq.  of  Amherst,  dated 


108  MEMOIRS  OF 

"  Cornwall,  Aug.  15,  1817. 
"  My  Dear  Friend, 

"  Your  letter  oflate  gave  me  a  great  satis- 
faction. And  since  I  have  received  it,  I  do 
now  think  that  I  was  in  a  fault  for  not  giving 
you  an  answer  for  it  sooner  ;  but  be  so  kind 
as  excuse  me.  You  know  not  what  joy  and 
pleasure  I  had  since  I  received  your  letter. 
Q  what  happy  news  !  It  gives  me  a  suitable 
joy  to  hear  that  the  Lord  has  visited  Am- 
herst once  more,  with  the  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit,  and  that  he  has  already  plucked 
as  brands  from  the  burning,  some  of  those 
who  once  had  been  destitute  of  the  Grace  of 
God,  and  yet  are  now  bowing  down  to  the 
sceptre  of  King  Jesus.  0  that  the  professed 
followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  be 
more  and  more  lively  in  this  most  glorious 
work  of  our  blessed  Redeemer.  Let  every 
Christian  be  more  and  more  deep  sensible 
that  the  glory  of  every  good  work  here  be- 
low must  come  from  God  ;  as  we  read  that 
he  is  the  giver  of  every  good  gift,  and  every 
perfect  gift  is  from  above.  We  cannot  expect 
to  see  a  single  soul  coming  out  of  the  king- 
dom of  Satan,  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
unless  we  see  one  or  more  faithful  and  hum- 
ble Christians,  running  forward  in  spirit 
without  any  least  of  doubt,  nor  fail  from 
doing  whatever  duty  God  required  of  them. 
O  let  us  all  intreat  of  the  Lord  that  he  would 
show    unto  us  of  his  holy  character  a  per 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  109 

fectioD,  that  we  may  be  able  to  love  and  to 
serve  him  more  and  far  better  than  we  now 
do.  Let  us  have  a  more  realizing  sense  of  our 
ingratitude  and  unfruitfulness  in  the  eyes  of 
the  all-seeing  God ;  let  us  be  faithful  in  our 
duty,  and  may  the  great  grace  of  God  be  suffi- 
cient for  us  all. 

"  I  have  not  heard  any  news  since  I  came 
away  from  Amherst.  The  only  information 
that  I  can  give  is  the  present  situation  of 
this  Institution,  under  which  we  are  placed. 
Our  school  is  going  on  very  regularly,  and  the 
scholars  are  making  some  progress  in  their 
studies.  One  of  our  members  is  become  a 
born  in  Christ,  since  he  has  been  here,  and 
I  trust  there  is  no  small  degree  of  happiness. 
He  is  now  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God.  0  that  the  Lord  would  be  pleased 
to  bless  this  school.  I  humbly  beg  of  your 
prayers  for  this  school,  that  each  member  of 
it  may  become  a  member  of  the  household 
of  God.  Please  to  remember  me  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  P.  and  family.  Tell  Mr.  P.  that 
I  shall  write  to  him  as  soon  as  I  can,  but  I 
dare  not  make  any  promise  to  set  a  time 
when.     Yours, 

"H.  Obookiah." 

About  the  commencement  of  the  year 
1818,  Obookiah  became  seriously  indispos- 
ed, and  was  obliged  wholly  to  abandon  his 
studies.    A  physician  was  called,  and  speedy 

K 


110  MEMOIRS  OF 

attention  paid  to  his  complaints.  It  was 
soon  found  that  his  disease  was  the  typhus 
fever;  and  a  thorough  course  of  medicine 
was  commenced,  which  after  one  or  two 
weeks  appeared  to  check  the  progress  of 
the  disorder,  and  confident  expectations 
were  entertained  of  his  recovery.  Hope 
continued  to  be  cherished  until  it  became 
evident  that  his  strength  was  wasting,  and 
that  his  constitution,  naturally  strong,  was 
giving  way  to  the  violence  of  the  disease, 
which  had  taken  fast  hold  of  him,  and  had 
not  been  essentially  removed.  Notwith- 
standing the  unremitted  care  and  the  skill 
of  his  attending  physician,  and  the  counsel 
of  others  called  to  consult  with  him,  the 
kindest  and  most  judicious  attentions  of  the 
family  into  which  he  had  fallen,  and  the  uni- 
versal solicitude  of  his  surrounding  friends, 
he  continued  to  decline  until  the  night  of 
the  17th  of  February  ;  when  his  happy  spirit 
was  released,  and  his  joyful  anticipations 
realized,  that  he  should  soon  reach  his  heavenly 
Father's  house. 

In  this  last  lingering  sickness,  the  chris- 
tian character  of  Obookiah  was  advanta- 
geously exhibited.  His  patience,  cheerful- 
ness, resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  gratitude 
for  the  kindness  of  his  friends,  and  be- 
nevolence, were  particular  subjects  of  no- 
tice and  conversation  to  those  who  attended 
him  during  this  interesting  period.  His  phy- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  Ill 

sician  said  of  him  that  "  he  was  the  first 
patient  whom  he  had  ever  attended  through 
a  long  course  of  fever,  that  had  not  in  some 
instances  manifested  a  greater  or  less  degree 
of  peevishness  and  impatience." 

Mrs.  S.  in  whose  family  he  was  confined, 
and  who  devoted  her  attention  exclusively 
to  the  care  of  him,  observed,  that  "  this  had 
been  one  of  the  happiest  and  most  profitable 
periods  of  her  life — that  she  had  been  more 
than  rewarded  for  her  cares  and  watchings 
by  day  aud  night,  in  being  permitted  to  wit- 
ness his  excellent  example,  and  to  hear  his 
godly  conversation." 

By  this  friend  a  part  of  his  observations 
and  answers,  particularly  within  a  few  of  the 
last  days  of  his  sickness,  were  committed  to 
writing ;  and  are  as  follows : 

To  one  of  his  countrymen,  as  he  entered 
the  room  in  the  morning,  after  he  had  pass- 
ed a  night  of  suffering,  he  said,  "  I  almost 
died  last  night.      It  is  a  good  thing  to  be 

sick,   S ,  we  must   all  die — and  'tis  no 

matter  where  we  are."  Being  asked  by 
another  "  Are  you  afraid  to  die  ?"  he  an- 
swered, "No,  I  am  not."  A  friend  said 
to  him,  "  I  am  sorry  to  find  you  so  very 
sick" — he  replied,  "  Let  God  do  as  he 
pleases." 

Mrs.  S.  frequently  inquired  of  him  if  he 
would  hear  a  few  verses  in  the  Bible.  "  O 
yes!"  was  his  answer,  "  'tis  s;ood;"  and  after 


112  MEMOIRS  OP 

hearing,  he  would  turn  his  eyes  to  Hea- 
ven, apparently  in  prayer.  After  a  season 
of  great  distress,  he  broke  out  in  an  audible 
voice,  and  said,  "  If  we  put  our  trust  in  God, 
we  need  not  fear."  Frequently,  when  free 
from  pain,  he  inquired  for  some  one  to  pray 
with  him ;  but  often  before  he  could  be  gra- 
tified his  pains  returned,  and  he  forgot  his 
request.  The  person  whom  he  most  fre- 
quently called  upon  to  pray  with  him  was 
his  friend  Thomas.  They  often  prayed  to- 
gether, alone  : — as  they  had  done  for  years. 
In  the  language  of  his  female  friend,  "  Their 
souls  appeared  to  knit  together  like  those  of 
David  and  Jonathan.  Henry  always  appear- 
ed composed  and  apparently  very  happy,  af- 
ter a  season  of  prayer  with  Thomas.  In  a 
season  of  fainting  I  left  the  room  for  a  mo- 
ment, to  get  some  water,  returned  and  found 
them  weeping  in  great  distress,  supposing 
the  time  of  separation  had  now  come." 
Upon  his  inquiring  for  the  Doctor,  to  whom 
he  appeared  greatly  attached,  Mrs.  S.  said 
to  him,  "  Henry,  do  you  depend  upon  your 
physician?"  "Oh!  you  don't  know,"  said 
he,  "how  much  I  depend  upon  the  great 
Physician  of  the  soul."  He  inquired,  "  Does 
the  Doctor  say  I  shall  get  well  ?"  It  was 
answered,  "  He  thinks  it  is  uncertain  :"  to 
which  he  said,  "  God  will  do  what  is  right 
— God  will  take  care  of  me."  He  observed 
to  Mrs.  S.,  "  It  is  a  fine  pleasant  morning.' 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  113 

•She  said  to  him,  "  You  are  glad  to  see  the 
light  of  the  morning,  after  a  dark  distressing 
night."  He  replied,  "  Oh!  some  light  in  the 
night — some  light  of  God." 

After  a  season  of  distress  for  two  hours, 
he  appeared  perfectly  happy — he  looked  out 
of  the  window,  his  eyes  appeared  fixed  on 
some  delightful  object.  I  inquired  of  him, 
"Of  what  are  you  thinking,  Henry?" — 
"  Oh !  I  can't  tell  you  all,"  said  he,  "  Of  Je- 
sus Christ." 

After  sleeping  for  some  time,  he  prayed 
very  fervently,  in  these  words,  "0  Lord, 
have  mercy  on  ray  soul — Thou  knowest  all 
my  secret  sins — Save  me  for  the  sake  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour — Amen." 

He  said  to  one  of  his  countrymen,  who 
had  been  a  faithful  nurse  to  him,  "  1  must 
eat  or  I  can't  live" — and  then  inquired  of 
him  with  anxiety,   "  Have  you  eat  breakfast, 

W ?     How  thankful    you  ought  to  be 

that  you  have  strength,  and  can  eat."  Soon 
he  raised  his  hands  and  said,  "  Oh!  how  I 
want  to  see  Owhyhee!  But  I  think  I  never 
shall — God  will  do  right — he  knows  what  is 
best" — and    burst    into    a    flood    of    tears. 

"  W ,  if  you  live  to  go  home,  remember 

me  to  my  uncle." 

To  dear  H.  he  said,  "lam  thinking  most 

of  the  time,  how  good  God  is — how  kind  to 

me."    His  companions  were  mentioned.     He 

said,  "  They  are  all  very  good ;  they  have 

k2 


114  MEMOIRS  OF 

done  a  great  deal  for  me.  But  they  must  be 
good  for  themselves  too." 

He  appeared  very  affectionate  to  all,  es- 
pecially his  countrymen.  He  insisted  on 
some  one  of  them  being  with  him  continual- 
ly ;  would  call  very  earnestly  for  them  if  they 
were  out  of  his  sight ;  and  would  be  satisfied 
only  with  this,  that  they  were  gone  to  eat  or 

to  rest.     To  one  of  them  he  said,   "  W , 

I  thank  you  for  all  you  have  done  for  me ; 
you  have  done  a  great  deal ;  but  you  will  not 
have  to  wait  on  me  much  more,  I  shall  not 

live."    To  another,  "  My  dear  friend  S , 

you  have  been  very  kind  to  me ;  I  think  of 
you  often  ;    I  thank  you ;    but  I  must  die, 

G ,  and  so  must  you.     Think  of  God, 

G ,    never   fail."      To   another,    "You 

must  stay  ;  perhaps  I  finish  off  this  fore- 
noon. How  much  God  has  done  for  me 
and  for  you!" 

The  day  before  he  died,  "  after  a  dis- 
tressing night,  and  a  bewildered  state  of 
mind,  he  appeared  to  have  his  reason  per- 
fectly, and  requested  that  his  countrymen 
might  be  called."  After  they  came  in  he 
inquired  several  times  for  one  of  them  who 
was  absent,  and  for  whom  he  had  no  hope ; 
and  said,  "  I  have  not  seen  him  much — I 
shan't  see  him — I  want  to  talk  to  him." — 
When  the  rest  had  seated  themselves  around 
his  bed,  he  addressed  them  most  feelingly  in 
his  native  language,  as  long  as  his  strength 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  115 

would  permit.  As  much  of  the  address  as 
could  be  recollected,  was  afterwards  written 
in  English  by  one  of  his  countrymen,  and 
was  essentially  as  follows  : — 

"  My  dear  countrymen,  I  wish  to  say 
something  to  you  all — you  have  been  very 
kind  to  me — I  feel  my  obligation  to  you — I 
thank  you.  And  now,  my  dear  friends,  I 
must  beseech  you  to  remember  that  you 
have  got  to  follow  me.  Above  all  things, 
make  your  peace  with  God — you  must  make 
Christ  your  friend — you  are  in  a  strange 
land — you  have  no  father — no  mother  to 
take  care  of  you  when  you  are  sick — but 
God  will  be  your  friend  if  you  put  your  trust 
in  him — He  has  raised  up  friends  here,  for 
you  and  for  me — I  have  strong  faith  in  God 
— I  am  willing  to  die  when  the  voice  of  my 
Saviour  call  me  hence — I  am  willing,  if  God 
design  to  take  me.  But  I  cannot  leave  you 
without  calling  upon  the  mercy  of  God  to 
sanctify  your  souls  and  fit  you  for  Heaven. 
When  we  meet  there  we  shall  part  no  more. 
Remember,  my  friends,  that  you  are  poor — 
it  is  by  the  mercy  of  God  that  you  have  com- 
fortable clothes,  and  that  you  are  so  kindly 
supported.  You  must  love  God — I  want  to 
have  you  make  your  peace  with  God.  Can't 
you  see  how  good  God  is  to  you  ?  God  has 
done  great  deal  for  you  and  for  me.  Re- 
member that  you  have  got  to  love  God,  or 
else  you  perish  for  ever.  God  has  given  his 
k3 


116  MEMOIRS  OF 

Son  to  die  for  you — I  want  to  have  you  love 
God  very  much.  I  want  to  talk  with  you  by 
and  by — my  strength  fails — I  can't  now — I 
want  to  say  more" 

This  is  probably  but  a  part  of  what  was 
spoken,  and  that  imperfectly  translated. — 
The  address,  under  the  circumstances  in 
which  it  was  made,  was  affecting  beyond 
description.  The  weakness  of  Obookiah, 
which  was  such  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  he  could  utter  an  audible  sound  ;  the 
peculiarly  affectionate  and  earliest  tones  of  his 
voice,  the  voice  occasionally  faltering  in 
death ;  his  companions  sitting  around  him, 
with  broken  hearts — some  of  them  almost 
unable  to  support  their  grief — the  address 
being  continued  until  his  strength  was  en- 
tirely exhausted,  rendered  the  scene  literally 
overwhelming — Loud  sobbing  was  heard 
throughout  the  room  ;  and  from  persons  little 
accustomed  even  to  weep. 

After  Henry  had  ceased  to  speak,  one  of 
his  countrymen  at  his  request,  communicated 
in  English,  to  those  of  his  companions  who 
were  not  able  to  understand  the  Owhyhee  lan- 
guage, such  things  as  Henry  had  previously 
committed  to  him  for  that  purpose. 

An  hour  or  two  after  this,  when  Obookiah 
had  obtained  a  little  rest,  his  countryman, 
who  had  been  absent  during  the  address, 
coming  in,  he  said  to  him,  "Sit  down, 
G ,  I  have  been  talking  with  the  othei 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  117 

boys — They  have  been  very  kind  to  me — 
I  can't  pay  them — but  the  Lord  Jesus  has 
enough  and  to  spare — not  money  nor  wine, 

he  will  reward  them.     You,  G ,  as  well 

as  I,  are  a  poor  boy  ;  you  have  no  father  nor 
mother  here.    God  has  given  us  good  friends, 

and  you  must  love  him  and  serve  him,  G ; 

and  when  we  be  departed  here,  we  may 
praise  Grod  for  ever.  We  must  all  die. 
Doctor  C.  cannot  save  us  when  we  are  sick 
unto  death.  You  and  I  are  sinners.  May  the 
Lord  Jesus  have  mercy  on  our  poor  souls — I 
must  rest." 

To  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  S.  who  came  to 
his  bed-side,  and  after  looking  at  him,  was 
about  to  withdraw,  he  said,    "  Wait — wait 

— I  wish  to  speak  to  you.     P ,  you  have 

got  to  be  a  great  boy — you  have  been  to 
school  a  great  deal.  Remember  you  will  be 
examined  at  the  Day  of  Judgment,  for  your 
improvement."  To  a  friend,  he  said,  "  My 
faith  holds  out."  To  another,  "  How  soon 
shall  I  be  taken  away?"  It  was  answered, 
"pretty  soon."  He  was  asked,  "If  you 
could  have  your  choice,  would  you  choose  to 
live  or  to  die  ?"  He  replied,  "I  do  not 
know  ;  I  wish  to  live  to  do  good  ;  if  it  were 
not  for  this,  I  do  not  wish  to  live  another 
moment."  And  added,  with  much  apparent 
grief,  "I've  lost  my  time — Pre  lost  my  time.'' 
To  another  friend,  he  said,  "./  haoe  no  de- 
sire to  live,  if  I  can  enjoy  the  presence  of  God 


113  MEMOIRS  OF 

and  go  where  Christ  is."  Looking  down  at 
his  feet,  which  bore  evident  marks  of  ap- 
proaching death,  he  cried  out,  "  Oh!  Mor- 
tality /"  His  physician  requested  him  to 
take  some  medicine  which  was  disagreeable 
to  him  ;  he  said,  "Wait,  wait,  Sir,  till  to- 
morrow ;"  but  soon  consented,  and  said 
"  Perhaps  there  will  be  no  to-morrow." 
The  evening  before  his  death,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mills,  whom  he  always  called  "  Father," 
came  in  to  see  him.  He  looked  at  him  very 
wishfully,  and  said,  "  Will  you  pray,  Sir, 
before  we  part?"  He  listened  to  the  prayei 
with  fixed  attention,  and  when  it  was  closed, 
said,  as  he  had  done  in  every  instance  be- 
fore, "J  thank  you,  Sir" — and  this  with  a 
sweetness  of  voice,  and  an  expression  of  coun- 
tenance, which  none  can  conceive  but  those 
who  witnessed. 

As  death  seemed  to  approach,  Mrs.  S.  said 
to  him,  "  Henry,  do  you  think  you  are  dying?" 
He  answered,  "  Yes,  ma'am" — and  then  said. 
"Mrs.  S.  1  thank  you  for  your  kindness." 
She  said,  "  I  wish  we  might  meet  hereafter." 
He  replied,  "  I  hope  we  shall" — and  taking 
her  hand,  affectionately  bid  her  farewell. 
Another  friend  taking  his  hand,  told  him  that 
he  "  must  die  soon."  He  heard  it  without 
emotion,  and  with  a  heavenly  smile  bade  him 
his  last  adieu. 

He  shook  hands  with  all  his  companions 
present,    and    with   perfect    composure   ad- 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  119 

dressed  to  them  the  parting  salutation  of  his 
native  language,  "Alloah  o'e." — My  love  be 
with  you. 

But  a  few  minutes  before  he  breathed  his 
last,  his  physician  said  to  him,  "  How  do 
you  feel  now,  Henry  ?"  He  answered.  "  Ve- 
ry well — /  am  not  sick — /  have  no  pain — I  feel 
well."  The  expression  of  his  countenance 
was  that  of  perfect  peace.  He  now  seemed 
a  little  revived,  and  lay  in  a  composed  and 
quiet  state  for  several  minutes.  Most  of 
those  who  were  present,  not  apprehending 
an  immediate  change,  had  seated  themselves 
by  the  fire.  No  alarm  was  given,  until  one 
of  his  countrymen  who  was  standing  by  his 
bed-side,  exclaimed,  "Obookiah's  gone."  All 
sprang  to  the  bed.  The  spirit  had  departed 
— but  a  smile,  such  as  none  present  had  ever 
beheld — an  expression  of  the  final  triumph 
ol  his  soul,  remained  upon  his  countenance. 


120  MEMOIRS  OF      ^ 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  SERMON 

Preached  at  the  Funeral  of  Obookiah,  Feb. 
18,  1818,  by  Lyman  Beecher,  D.  D.  then 
Pastor  of  a  Church  in  Litchfield,  Conn, 
from  Psalm  xcvii.  v.  1  &<  2. 

The  Lord  reigneth  let  the  earth  rejoice,  let  the 
multitude  of  the  isles  be  glad  thereof.  Clouds 
and  darkness  are  round  about  him  :  righte- 
ousness and  judgment  are  the  habitation  oj 
his  throne- 

The  death  of  Henry  Obookiah,  is  one  of 
those  ways  of  God,  about  which  are  clouds 
and  darkness. 

We  did  not  expect  it,  and  we  should  not 
have  ordered  events  thus,  to  glorify  God, 
and  extend  his  cause. 

We  thought  surely  this  is  he  who  shall 
comfort  Owhyhee.  We  saw  so  plainly  the 
hand  of  God,  in  bringing  him  hither ;  in  his 
instruction,  his  conversion,  talents,  and  mis- 
sionary zeal,  that  like  Samuel,  when  he  saw 
the  eldest  son  of  Jesse,  we  were  prepared 
undoubtedly  to  say,  "  This  is  the  Lord's 
anointed."  But  all  our  hopes  of  his  agency, 
in  the  Owhyhee  Mission,  are  dashed.  His 
work  is  done :  those  feet  will  not  traverse 
the  shores  of  Owhyhee,  that  tongue  will  not 
publish  salvation  to  those,  for  whom  it  ut- 


HENRY    OBOOKIAH.  121 

tered  so  many  supplications.  We  behold  the 
end  of  his  race,  and  bury  with  his  dust  in 
the  grave  all  our  high  raised  hopes  of  his 
future  activity  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 

And  to  some  it  may  seem,  as  if  God  were 
frowning  upon  this  Institution,*  and  were 
warning  us,  after  so  much  needless  expense, 
and  labour  lost  in  the  education  of  this 
youth,  to  cease  from  our  vain  expectations 
of  sending  the  Gospel  to  Owhyhee,  and  give 
up  our  labour  of  love. 

But  we  do  not  thus  interpret  the  voice  of 
his  Providence  which  speaks  to  us  this  day, 
but  rather  hear  him  saying  to  us,  more  audi- 
bly than  ever,  "Go  forward." 

It  must  be  confessed  that  we  have  had 
fears,  unbelieving  fears,  doubtless  in  part, 
and  such  in  part  as  resulted  necessarily  from 
the  novelty  of  the  undertaking ;  and  had  we 
suitably  regarded  the  analogy  of  Providence 
we  might  have  had  fears  from  our  uninter- 
rupted and  uncommon  prosperity,  whether 
our  work  was  the  Lord's,  and  would  be  own- 
ed by  him,  and  blessed.  But  from  this  dark- 
ness we  hear  the  voice  of  our  God  saying 
unto  us,  "  Be  not  afraid,  for  I  am  with  you 
— be  not  afraid,  it  is  I."  And  we  are  not 
afraid.  Instead  of  his  frown,  we  behold  in 
this  his  Providence,  cheering  evidence,  that 


*  The  Foreign  Mission  School,  then  established  at 
Cornwall,  Connecticut. 


122  MEMOIRS  OF 

this  institution  is  taken  under  his  protection 
as  his  own,  and  that  he  will  by  trials  so  dis- 
cipline us,  and  the  members  of  this  school, 
for  future  usefulness,  that  himself  shall  not 
be  robbed,  nor  we  be  destroyed,  by  the  sal- 
vation of  Owhyhee. 

Nor  do  we  feel  as  if  our  labour  had  been 
lost,  did  our  work  terminate  this  day.  If 
any  are  disposed  to  think  so,  let  them  behold 
the  dying  scene  of  Henry  Obookiah  ;  witness 
his  heavenly  smile ;  trace  his  bright  path  to 
glory  ;  behold  his  immaculate  spirit  before 
the  throne  of  God — his  astonishment  at  the 
Providence  which  brought  him  from  Owhy- 
hee, to  fit  him  for  heaven,  and  his  rapture 
at  the  glory  revealed  in  him.  Behold  his  hu- 
mility, while  he  veils  his  face,  and  casts  his 
crown  at  the  feet  of  Jesus;  his  rapture  while 
he  cries  amid  the  myriads  of  glory,  "  Wor- 
thy is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain."  Let  them 
calculate  the  amount  of  moral  evil  prevented 
by  his  sanctification,  and  of  natural  evil,  by 
his  exemption  from  the  plagues  of  sin  and 
the  wrath  of  God. — Let  them  think  of  his 
growing  knowledge  and  expanding  mind  ; 
his  increasing  holiness,  and  his  joy,  destin- 
ed to  increase  for  ever,  and  then  decide, 
whether  they  would  recall  the  prayers,  and 
the  substance  given  to  him,  if  by  doing  so  it 
would  recall  his  spirit  from  Heaven,  renew 
in  his  heart  the  reign  of  sin,  and  send  him 
back  to  weep  unheeded,  where  he  once  wept 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH.  123 

"because  no  one  would  give  him  learning," 
and  at  last  to  go  back  to  the  darkness  of 
Owhyhee,  and  die  unsatisfied  among  the 
heathen. 

Who  would  dare  to  stop  the  song  which 
he  sings,  to  extinguish  the  rapture  which  he 
feels,  to  eclipse  by  his  removal  from  Heaven 
the  glory  of  God,  which  his  redemption  il- 
lustrates, or  rob  angels  of  their  joy  at  his 
conversion,  and  their  augmented  joy  at  his 
arrival  in  glory. 

Who  does  not  rejoice  rather,  that  God  has 
inclined  and  enabled  him  to  bear  a  part  in  so 
glorious  an  achievement,  as  is  now  comsum- 
mated  by  his  redemption  ? 

If  the  churches  of  New-England,  knowing 
the  purpose  of  God  concerning  Obookiah, 
had  chartered  a  ship  and  sent  it  to  Owhyhee, 
on  purpose  to  bring  him  to  Christ,  and  fit 
him  for  heaven ;  it  would  have  been  a  cheap 
purchase  of  blessedness  to  man,  and  glory 
to  God  :  and  were  there  no  expedients  now 
to  rescue  his  poor  countrymen,  for  whom  he 
prayed,  the  end  would  justify  the  constant 
employment  of  such  means,  to  bring  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Owhyhee,  to  glory.  But 
besides  his  redemption,  God  by  his  Provi- 
dence towards  him,  has  illustrated  his  go- 
vernment of  the  moral  world,  and  added  new 
evidence  to  the  truth  of  the  declaration, 
"  All  that  the  Father  hath  given  unto  me  shall 
come." 


124  MEMOIRS  OF 

He  is  in  the  deep  darkness  of  Owhyhee, 
and  how  shall  he  believe  on  him  of  whom 
he  has  not  heard,  or  how  shall  he  hear  with- 
out a  preacher,  or  be  blessed  with  the  privi- 
leges, when  the  time  has  not  come  to  send 
that  Gospel  to  that  isle  of  the  sea. 

Behold  the  wonder-working  hand  of  God ! 
He  is  in  the  proscribed  family  of  his  father, 
all  of  whom  are  cut  off.  He  flies  with  his 
brother  on  his  back,  whom  the  fatal  arrow 
pierced,  leaving  Obookiah  untouched — He 
is  dedicated  by  his  surviving  uncle  to  the 
priesthood — But  his  tender  spirit,  grieved 
at"  the  loss  of  his  parents,  could  not  bear  the 
associations  of  Owhyhee.  Other  children 
had  parents  to  return  to,  after  playing,  but 
this  "  poor  boy"  could  not  forget  that  he  had 
none,  and  left  his  native  land  voluntarily, 
and  eagerly,  that  he  might  cease  from  the 
constant,  painful,  rememembrance  of  joys  de- 
parted never  to  return. 

He  came  to  this  land,  and  heard  of  Him 
on  whom  without  hearing,  he  could  not  be- 
lieve, and  by  the  mouth  of  those,  who  could 
never  have  spoken  to  him  in  Owhyhee. 

He  heard,  and  God  who  commanded  the 
light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  caused  the 
light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God 
in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  illumine  his 
heart. 


HENRY  OBOOKIAH  125 

Nor  does  the  salvation  of  Obookiah  fill  up 
the  measure  of  good,  by  which  the  Most 
High  is  pleased  to  reward  our  labour  for 
him.  By  means  of  his  conversion,  numbers 
of  his  brethren,  wandering  like  lost  sheep  in 
our  land,  have  been  brought  also  to  the  know- 
ledge of  his  truth,  and  by  the  remote  instru- 
mentality of  the  same  event,  this  Institution, 
the  hope  of  Owhyhee,  and  other  heathen 
lands,  has  been  established.  Nor  are  we 
compelled  to  believe,  that  this  usefulness  will 
terminate  with  his  life,  or  that  the  immediate 
consequences  of  his  death,  will  be  calamitous. 
His  death  will  give  notoriety  to  this  institu- 
tion— will  awaken  a  tender  sympathy  for 
Owhyhee,  and  give  it  an  interest  in  the 
prayers  and  charities  of  thousands  who  other- 
wise had  not  heard  of  this  establishment,  or 
been  interested  in  its  prosperity. 

Let  there  be  no  despondency,  then,  in- 
dulged by  the  members  of  this  agency,  or  the 
board  under  whose  patronage  we  act,  or  by 
the  churches  of  our  Lord,  who  favour  this 
institution.  These  clouds,  and  this  darkness, 
announce  the  presence,  but  not  the  displea- 
sure, of  our  God. 

Had  no  disappointments  intervened,  our 
work  had  lacked  the  immemorial  testimony 
of  the  Divine  approbation.  Instead  of  being 
appalled  by  the  darkness,  we  are  cheered  by 


126  MEMOIRS  OF  HENRY  OBOOKIAH. 

it;  instead  of  fainting  under  the  stroke,  we 
are  animated  by  it,  to  double  confidence  in 
God,  and  double  diligence  in  this  work,  for- 
asmuch as  we  know,  that  our  labour  is  not 
vain  in  the  Lord. 


THE  END. 


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